Uconn doesn't need another guard . They need center depth the only have el alfy . They take beers it gives elfy time to get adjusted to the college game
They should add a big. And Iriafen is the obvious one to get. If they can’t get her; even names like Karlen and Weimar make sense because they would improve the roster. I even agree with the Chen addition. It upgrades the team. But it also puts pressure on Geno to be a better manager. Geno is a great coach. But his management leaves something to be desired; for me at least. If he adds Chen; he is portaling over players on the team. Shade, KK, and Q in particular. And he is eliminating a path to minutes for Allie and Morgan. Dawn portaled over players when she added Paopao; but she managed minutes masterfully. Geno will need to do the same. Or there will be midseason exits like Saylor.
UConn needs a big & the best fit is Kiki Iriaffen, she played at Stanford in a similar system of motion offense. She only has 1 yr left, so you get an experience person that won't back load the classes, All UConn's forwards currently will be freshmen or sophomores. They don't really want to add another big that will be a sophomore. They need to balance out the rosters in terms of years left taking a big that is a senior or grad transfer, a junior at worse.
Thanks for the update, but some of the stuff you mentioned was already mentioned in other outlets. The ladies transferring out of Oregon State is due to OSU moving to a new conference. The senior transferring out of VT to Kentucky is following her coach who was hired recently at Kentucky. I believed one other player or recruit is following the senior to Kentucky as well. Im surprised you didnt know this because it's been reported by ESPN already and other RU-vid channels
Amore's move to KY was not surprising at all. As soon as Brooks, her coach at Vtech got the job at KY, It was almost guaranteed once she said she wasn't going pro. Brooks took 2 people on the Vtech roster with him Amore & Strack (freshmen big that was Kitley's heir to that spot). He also took 3 incoming recruits that were supposed to go to Vtech, now at KY...Hasset, Blue, & Silva
All Uconn needs is a good, proven big who can score inside. If they get Beers or someone like her, they're right up there with Texas, Notre Dame and South Carolina as favorites to win the title. Uconn can still compete with their current roster too if they just stay healthy imo
UCONN staff were smart enough to bring both Lou Lopez Senechal and Dorka Juhasz in previous seasons.. both players who were able to fit their system and contribute quickly.. and both ended up playing more than they planned due to injuries. Front court is where UCONN is in dire need.. Edwards was a rock inside.. now they need need to see who will end up filling that role, and a transfer may very well give the rookies the time they need to acclimate to D1 college ball. Front court freshmen generally take a few seasons to get used to things.. learn the ropes... and a veteran forward (ie: Dorka-like) player can help ease the transition. I hope Beers is looking at UCONN for this reason.
Now since beers committed to Oklahoma UCONN should potentially look at these players. Or look overseas for a tall Forward/Center. Jana (C), Strong (PF), Paige (SF), Azzi (SG), Chen (PG). Could potentially be a nightmare match for most team. All 5 can shoot the 3pt shot. Arkansas Pine-Bluff - Maya Peat, 6’6, C, Sr. (10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) North Dakota State - Elle Evans, 6’3, G, Soph. (15.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) Arkansas - Maryam Dauda, 6’4, F, Soph. (10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) Bryant - Mariona Planes Fortuny, 6’3, F, Sr. (16.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 apg) Faithful UCONN fans don’t panic and trust the process. Men’s and Women’s National Champions next year.
HVL can't guard a chair. Selfish and immediately runs down the court ahead of everybody else to shoot 3's. HVL...a big NO. WE NEED ANOTHER BIG. Would like it if Raegan Beers came to Storrs. My wish list: Kiki Iriaffen & Raegan Beers. We don't need any more guards. We need big bangers to assist Jana and Strong. Neither has played any college ball yet. They need the tutelage of experienced bangers.
To me it is a no brainer. Beers to UCONN that makes the most sense. Chen isn't NEEDED, but she would be a great addition. Yes, she would cut into KK's, and all the guards' time (all but Bueckers) , but good guard play is often what makes the diff at tourney time. She would also be there for just one year. Her coach at Princeton (I believe) was Carla Berube, former winner at UCONN. So It is Beers as an almost must have, and Chen as a very good addition. El Alfy will benefit by not having to be thrust into a starting role. Everyone, with the exception of maybe Patterson (assuming her knee is really healthy) will benefit by Beers joining UCONN through the portal.
After thinking about it, I do think this team could benefit from Chen. I say this because of the massive question mark surrounding Caroline and whether her body will be able to let her play again. Same goes for Azzi. However, I would prefer getting 2 more big bodies
Beers would be amazing at UCONN. But, how many more amazing players can UCONN use? Mostly what I remember from the games during March Madness is that Geno usually plays only 7 players. This goes all the way back to when Diana Taurasi played for UCONN. They can't have enough depth? Hmmmmmm. Maybe.
Uconn needs to fill every open roster slot with a proven healthy body. Too many unknowns going into the fall with 5 players returning from serious injuries.
Doubt Geno will leave any spots on the roster open with everything he's been thru the past 4 years. Playing a lot of minutes is where players tend to get injured more easily.
To me. Chen is pretty much a done deal if she wants it. UConn has had open lines of communication with Princeton and with Chen since at least February. This is because UConn really likes to plan. The problem with this is that they are unprepared for the unexpected. Some better guards became available unexpectedly. But UConn were already so exchanged with Chen and Princeton; it would have been really ruthless to pivot elsewhere.
Chen adds next to nothing. They have 8 guards on the roster already, Even if Ducharme never plays again, high possibility, Chen doesn't fill the gap of Ducharme. Chen is not a big guard, that rebounds, can play the 3/4, and shoot 3's . Chen also doesn't fill Muhls, spot, Chen is not a good defender, slow, mediocre assist/turnover ration, 32% from 3pts
Chen is considered an upgrade on KK and Shade. And I agree with that notion. Shade and KK may be better a year from now. Or two years from now. But right now. Chen is better. Phelia is the guard I liked. I think Phelia, Fudd, and Bueckers would have been a better variety of guards.
We got Patteson, Elfy, Strong, and Ice all bigs. Judging from all the comments prior to Elfy's injury, she was a projected starter.The bigs we are hoping to obtain via the portal will expect major minutes that will affect the development of the above mentioned. At some point last season Ice should have started prior to the tournament along side Edward's and in relief of Edward's. For the most part seven players was what we had all season. Ice should have been exhausted, not so! Come tournament time Ice becomes the victim of critical comments. Being greedy going to the portal will effect the guards recruited and KK, Shade and especially Q. Coach wants that twelve title bad. He has a history of Playing seven and if you catch him when he's feeling charitable maybe eight. With Caroline, Aubrey, and Azzi all possibilities? I will be surprised if he manages deep in his roster. If he doesn't players growth and development will be at jeopardy. I hope I'm wrong and Coach managers deep into his roster. The talent is there. Remember Edward's at 6'3" played exclusively and that team went to the final four last season. 😊
Unconn could use a solid, smart, good shooting-passing guard. Chen from Princeton, seems a good fit. Another big to play low or high would definitely be valuable. Beers from OSU seems good fit. What about player from Stanford , plays Weak side forward. Shes a gamer
@@TheDisruptiveOne Probably not very nice. I have been wondering if any coaches would think this way, but maybe none do. I don't think anyone else is going to enter the portal from U Conn. Patterson is injured, and Q has the confidence that she can complete with anyone. But we will see soon enough.
Oregon State has lost 7 players(all their best) b/c with the demise of the Pac 12, Oregon State will be playing in the WCC(a not respected mid major conference). PAC 12 was one of the deepest & competitive conferences, Kids don't want to go from that to the WCC. PAC 12 was on national tv all the time with 5 or 6 teams ranked most of the year, WCC games are on ESPN+ streaming with the only decent team Gonzaga.
Having a deep roster is a myth. Check the numbers. Teams win close games with six or seven. UConn has won NC's laying six for 190+ minutes. With the three incoming Freshmen UConn has 15 on a roster.
It's not about how many you actually play - it's about how many you have the ability to play. How much pressure was there on Aliyah and Nika to stay out of foul trouble? Everyone is a better player when they know someone is on the bench who has their back. As good as Aliyah & Nika were, they would have been so much better with getting a breather and not hearing "you cannot foul!" from Coach. You can't tell me we wouldn't have been better with Azzi, Caroline & Aubrey available, nevermind Jana.
That was then. This is now. There is a team in South Carolina that clearly wears teams down with their depth. And they are getting deeper. UConn needs to start building themselves to beat certain teams. Or they can stick to the old formula and keep coming up short.
@@TheDisruptiveOne UConn's issue was injuries the last 3 years, especially the last 2. They had 14 people on the pre season roster the last 2 year. They made a final 4 this year and should have won. A full healthy roster UConn is back to back NC's.
I enjoy Listen Up, but sometimes I wish Phil would stop interrupting Phil. Just as Phil is about to say something, Phil jumps in and changes the subject, pulls an elliptical or enters an aside, and then Phil is sidetracked. But I keep listening, so maybe I like it?😀
Please read what you've written. It doesn't make sense. " I wish Phil would stop interrupting Phil. Just as Phil is about to say something, Phil jumps in and changes the subject, pulls an elliptical or enters an aside, and then Phil is sidetracked."
UCONN enthusiasts need to chill. This team is an incomplete team and the only proven starters are PB, AF, and AG in my eyes. KK, Shade, and Ice are starters by default and still need to improve tons to be very good players to match the elite teams. Some of them were invisible, committing fouls, and exhausted in the tournament. Honestly, I don't know what UCONN can expect from Jana, AP, and CD. I was against bringing in another guard, but an experienced ball handler is not a bad idea to mitigate the risk of KK's sophomore jinx and injury. Unless three freshmen are superstars right away, the UCONN team doesn't look like the top four team.
I agree on the proven starters point. And Azzi and Aubrey have injury question marks. I am not the biggest Nika fan in the world. But she defended. And she was durable. Aaliyah and Nika were the most durable and most reliable players on the team. It is a concern to ask unproven players to replace them. Chen and Iriafen absolutely would be good replacements that would make this team better.
@@troyjackson122 I am giving constructive criticism. Playing only six players in the tournament is the problem because they were exhausted in the end. Geno does not have any confidence in any other players. UCONN needs more proven quality players. So eat 💩💩💩 boy!
