3+ challenges for the UConn team

Too soon?   (not for me: laid up in bed with the worst possible punishment for writing a book: page proofs)

1. The frontcourt rotation. If Raegan comes, strike this: the challenge becomes a massive strength. If not, the rotation is still extremely solid. But Ayanna and Jana are coming off season-long injuries; Ice needs to take that sophomore leap and needs to stay out of foul trouble; and Jana (and if she's playing the 4, Sarah) need to learn to play man-to-man defense (neither shines on that yet). Aubrey is probably not going to play until the beginning of 2025, so she won't be much help here early. 
Jana is better offensively ... and don't undervalue that strength ... but has the length to at least intimidate defensively.  
Ice was solid-if-not-spectacular at the defensive end by year end.  
Ayanna was much better defensively in her injury-marred season.  
Sara is going to make us happy.  She is very smart and coachable with an offensive toolkit that we've not seen from a big since ... Steph's senior season (??) ... maybe back to Tina.
And Aubrey is a spectacular defender.  One of the best in the game.

2. Who's da point? KK should be getting the majority of minutes. But it's tempting to put Paige there so that the 2-3 become more flexible in substitutions. I think it's KK's job, but still.... Paige is the best point guard in America; Morgan played point in high school; and Azzi has great ball handling skills and can get minutes there if necessary. In the UConn system, it's best to have an assigned point, but it's still really fluid.
I agree.  KK will probably start with Azzi and Paige and a couple of bigs.  Note, however that having Paige on the floor means that Azzi and Morgan will have a safety valve, so those two will look better than if they were forced to play that role exclusively.  

3. Azzi or Ashlynn at the 2? Azzi should be ready at the very least soon after the start of the season. Ashlynn was heroic last year, putting up similar numbers to Azzi and never, ever making a mistake. Azzi does make mistakes, but also is capable of incredible play. Not only the sweetest jumper in all basketball, but a really effective driver to the hoop and tremendous court sense. Watching tape of her, closely guarded and sometimes double teamed, reminded me that she's a potential PoY. I'm a complete Ashlynn fanboy, but Azzi terrifies defenses and keeps them honest against Paige (and Sarah).
Ash is almost exclusively a two, but ... Azzi, Paige, Caroline, Qadence, and Morgan are all able to play SG or wing.  Sarah can also play wing for stretches.  That gives nice flexibility, and means that Ash can continue to develop and slot into the two in nearly any lineup other than the one mentioned above.

3a. Who replaces Nika's incredible perimeter defense and Aaliyah's interior meanness? No one. And that's a problem. But if Ashlynn can learn that skill, which will help her have a pro career, she'll get more minutes. UConn needs a shutdown defender at the perimeter because the interior defense isn't very experienced yet. Someone needs to become the badass down low.
True.  Ash is a good candidate.  She was so good last year that she was unnoticed there.  She rarely had the opponent's most dangerous guard, but held her own against all others.  Don't underestimate KK, either.  She suffered from Nika's over-aggressiveness disease sometimes, but is well on her way to being a stopper for all but the biggest guards.  Both of these were further ahead defensively than almost any freshmen guards I can remember in recent years (for this discussion I am putting Aubrey as a forward).  Paige and Azzi are both plus defenders, though not where Nika was.  Add in Aubrey as a secret weapon (wouldn't it be great to see her on Juju?!?  That's worth triple the price of admission!).  Lastly, with a healthy (finally) group, everyone can afford to take a risk, since the fouls can be spread amongst a large pool.  

3b. Some still want Chen as an insurance at the 1 or 2. I think it's extremely unlikely she'll come for that when she can star elsewhere, but a one-year rental who puts Ashlynn down the bench or steals minutes from KK is not a great thing for morale. She's not a necessity but a luxury...and one with a price tag.
Never been sold on this idea.  I like Kaitlyn, but our situation just doesn't seem like a fit.  She needs to shine if she hopes to continue playing after her eligibility has expired.  Not only will it be tough to get enough minutes to do that here, no matter how good she might be, she'll still be overshadowed by the exploits of Supergirl and Azzi (and possibly others).  I don't think we need another guard (especially if we do get a big from the portal), but the best option would be someone with less notoriety, a great attitude, and the best assist to turnover ratio to be found.  That's likely to be an underclasswoman who was a backup somewhere this past season (even in a lower conference) and wants a chance to develop under the bright lights.  KC wouldn't benefit from the ability to parlay growth this season into the following year, when Paige, Azzi, Caroline, and Aubrey will all likely finish their UConn careers (hopefully with a confetti shower).  A younger guard with just the right attitude and aptitude might.  

EJ must have read my post. :-)

3b. Some still want Chen as an insurance at the 1 or 2. I think it's extremely unlikely she'll come for that when she can star elsewhere, but a one-year rental who puts Ashlynn down the bench or steals minutes from KK is not a great thing for morale. She's not a necessity but a luxury...and one with a price tag.

   
  If Fudd isn't available UConn's backcourt will be very short of experience, everyone not named Bueckers will be an underclassman. That's an unnecessary risk if Chen is available just to save Shade and Arnold from some possible anxiety.  

Given: right now, even without a portalier and with all healthy and healed as expected, we have a FF team. You can put that in the bank.