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Even my daughter Elizabeth (mother to Logan and Barrett) is looking for my Blog!!!
GO UCONN!!!!!
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It's another season, my friends, and it's decision time for me. Do I blog for hours a day? Do I only do game reports? Or just sit back and watch the games?
I received many emails, texts, messages, etc asking me when I would start. Nice of compliments. Yeah, I have an ego and it feels good to be wanted!!!!
So, here I am again. I can't promise every day, but I can tell you I will do my best to bring you all the info I can find out there on our beloved UConn Huskies! And of course some of my own opinions!
So, off we go! A look at the exhibition game, the Top 25 games coming up, a Preseason peek, UConn news and a few other things. Enjoy!!
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The first exhibition game is Sunday at Noon. It will be available, for free, on UCONN+ and on that new station WWAX, channel 27 on Xfinity in the Hartford area.
There are several ways to watch on UCONN+:
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Game Preview
The Huskies are taking on the Fort Hays University Tigers in their one and only exhibition game. The Tigers are a Division II school in the Mid-America Intercolligiate Athletic Association in the Great American Conference. I'll admit it. I've never heard of the school, the Association or the Conference. And I just wonder why they took off the "e" in Hays.
The Tigers opened the 2024-25 season ranked 23rd in the WBCA NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, so they are no slouch. Fort Hays State is coming off a 25-8 record in 2023-24. The Tigers reached the MIAA Tournament finals before advancing to the Central Region Semifinals in their eighth appearance in the NCAA DII Tournament over the last decade.
Former Fort Hays State standout women's basketball player and head coach Annette Wiles was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on October 13. She was a great player for the Tigers. Wiles was the all-time leading scorer in Fort Hays State program history with 2,407 points and a scoring average of 20.4 points per game. She also owns the single-season records for points (880, 1990-91), scoring average (24.4 ppg), field goals made (358), field goals attempted (582), and rebounds (364).
Fort Hays returns leadin scorer 5'11" grad student guard Katie Wagner Degarmo. She averaged 17.2 PPG and shot a solid 37% on three pointers. Katie leads the team in rebounds as well with 8.7 RPG. She is a good defensive player with 2 steals per game and gets to the FT line 5 times per game shooting 80%.
6'3" post Olivia Hollenbeck returns as a grad student as well. She was the second leading at 12. 2 PPG and second on the team in rebounds at 5.5 RPG.
5'8" Junior guard Ellie Stearns is the only other starter that returns.
The Tigers take around 20 three pointers per game.
Not much to say on the matchup. UConn will dominate from opening tip to final buzzer. There are no true "bench players" this year that will only play in the last couple of minues of the game. So no let up. As always, just hoping for an injury free game and a chance to see how the new players fit in. I'd love to see Fudd on the court for a few minutes. Probably not.
It's just great to get the season started!!!!
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There is so much to look forward to in the 2024-25 season, it's just hard to figure out where to start. I'm going to put in the class and Hoopsgurlz ranking next to their name.
We bid a fond fairwell to Aaliya Edwards and Nika Muhl who will move on to their professional careers and to Amari DeBerry and Ines Bettencourt, who have both entered the transfer portal. Amari is playing for Maryland this year and Ines tranfered to Gonzaga. Good luck to all in their future endevors!!!
Let's look at the players that finished the season and are coming back and and what we can expect next season from each player. Also a highlight video for each one.
How do you not start with Paige Bueckers (2020, No. 1). She is coming back for one more season and after this disaapointment, you can bet she will be loaded for bear every second of every minute of every game that she plays next season. Prohibitted favorite for POY next season, she will be moving back to her guard position where she will dominate.
It's Paige's freshman season,
but my favorite Highlight video for her
Two other starters just might not be starting next season, but for sure they will be big contributors. Ashlynn Shade (2023, No. 15) and KK Arnold (2023, No. 6) had their moments and at times were the difference in winning or losing. As sophomores, we can look forward to their improvement and seeing what they will bring next year.
KK Arold Full season Highlights
Ashlynn Shade Highlights
Off the bench last season were Ice Brady (2022, No. 5) and Q Samuels (2023, No. 41). I'm not sure where Q will fit in next year as between the injured players coming back and great freshmen coming in, her minutes might not be there. For Brady, she has a clear path to a starting position for 24-25. She will be the only experienced post on the roster. But she will have to show more of her BE tournement play. She has the skills.
Best I could find.
Brady Highlights in the news report
Q Samuels Highlights against NC State - 14 points
That's the 5 players that were available at the end of the year that are coming back.
Let's look at the 5, yes, 5 players that were on the bench injured.
I'm not sure who to start with. Let's go by class.
Aubrey Griffin (2019, No. 21) - Anyone think that Aubrey's knee injury in Jaunary was the difference between winning and losing that Iowa game? No doubt in my mind. She might not be ready for full time play until next January, but she will be back and contribute her final season at UConn.
Aubrey Griffin Highlights
Azzi Fudd (2021, No. 1) - Sigh....are you tired of seeing Azzi on the bench? I know I am. I'm also tired of fans dimishing what she will bring to the tabel. As good as Shade was this year in bringing the three point threat to the team, she is Fudd-light. The No. 1 HS recruit in 2021, when she was healthy, she played like an All-American. Until she can't I will be optimistic that she will be back to form by November. And eventtually in the starting lineup.
Azzi Fudd Highlights
Caroline Ducharme (2021, No. 5) - I suppose she is the biggest question mark of the returning injured players. Head injuries can be unpredictable. I'm sure both Caroline and Geno expected her to come back sometime this past season. She just didn't improve enough to do that. Now, she has been traveling with the team, no earplugs, looking ready to play. Will she be able to do that this summer and beyond? She is certainly planning on that and so am I.
Caroline Ducharme Highlights
Ayanna Patterson (2022, No. 4) - I can't believe the message board chatter about her being a possible transfer candidate. That makes no sense to me. I think fans forget how amazing she is in regards to athleticism. She can jump out of the building and rebound like a maniac. I love her game at the 4 and to match up with the terrific fowards she might meet. Thinking of Watkins at SC and Iriafrin at Stanford. Remember, she really hasn't been healthy at UConn. Don't sleep on her contributions. Sadly she had a shoulder injury in a practice session and might not be ready to start the season.
Hamilton Neill on Ayanna Paterson
Jana El Alfy (2023, unranked) - I posted the praise from Geno about Jana. It was amazing. Here it is again.
"There's nobody that is enjoying life more than she is, that is totally engaged in what we're doing. Everything we do as a team, she feels as though it's happening to her. I can't say enough about her as a person. Nobody has seen her play. No one at UConn nation has seen her play, and they don't anything about her. All they know is what they see. Myself, the staff, the players, and everyone associated with our program has been really truly, truly blessed that she's come into our life because I can honestly say in 40 years I've never coached anybody better at Connecticut, never, in my life."
Now, I have seen a ton of minutes of her playing. Folks downplayed the FIBA tournament but she dominated the post. And she is a true 6'6". The big we have been waiting for.
Jana El Alfy Highlights
Ok, that is the 10 returning players. What's left is the three players in the 2024 recruiting class. It was a great class that just got greater!! Also included in new players on the roster is Grad Student transfer from Princeton guard Kaitlyn Chen.
Chen is a 5'9" guard. She has some amazing ball skills and while her stats don't show it, her shooting form tells me she will be a solid three point threat. She averaged 15.8 PPG and 4.9 APG. She has a great feel for the game and playing under UConn protege head coach of Princeton Carla Berube for four seasons, she just gets the UConn way. A great addition to the team.
Kaitlyn Chen Highlights
Morgan Cheli (2024, No. 18) - What a great pickup for UConn. At 6'2" she is a really big guard who can also do well under the basket. She is basically the "swiss army knife" of women's basketball. She can play the point or along side the lead guard. Or both forward positions. Her defense is terrific. That will make Geno happy and earn her minutes as a freshman.
Morgan Cheli Highlights
Allie Ziebell (2024, No. 4) - I think I've seen more minutes of her playing than almost any other player in the 2024 class. Most people look at her as just a three point shooting demon. And for sure she is. She won the three-point contest at the McDonalds game including beating the boy contestant. And she hit a couple of threes in the actual game. But she is more than that. She is a really tough-nosed competitor and a physical guard. She reminds me of the Mabrey sisters that played at Notre Dame. She will be behind some great guards next season, so I'm not sure how many minutes she will play. She was amazing in the three point contest on First Night hitting 12-14.
Allie Ziebell highlights
Sarah Strong (2024, No. 1) - Ok, I had to pinch myself as I typed her name. I tried to be positive that she would come to UConn but the loooonnnngggggg wait for her to commit game me too much time to change my mind several times on what her decision would be. She is the most complete player to come to UConn since Maya Moore (someone reminded me of that fact), and I could see her starting at the four spot next year. Geno is a little more flexible in the idea of starting freshmen and she is certainly talented enough. And she fills the need with Edwards leaving. Starting or not, she will get her minutes and be a huge contributor in UConn's march to the championship. And she will make it more attractive to other elite players that UConn is recruiting.
Sarah Strong Highlights
Ok, that's it for the players. 14 right now. 9-10 available to start the season.
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TEAM BY HEIGHT
5'9" KK Arnold
5'9" Kaitlyn Chen
5'10" Ashlynn Shade
5'11" Azzi Fudd
5'11" Allie Ziebell
6' Paige Bueckers
6' Qadence Samuels
6'1" Aubrey Griffin
6'2" Ayanna Patterson
6'2" Carolina Ducharme
6'2" Morgan Chelli
6'2" Sarah Strong
6'4" Ice Brady
6'6" Jana El Alfy
This is a pretty big team. Ice and Jana rotating at the center would be great. Young but talented. And Patterson and Strong at the 4? Rebounding machines!!
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Possible Lineups
With 13 players that can all contribute next year, it will be interesting to see the lineups Geno comes up with especially who will be in his starting lineup. Of course there are players who have to rehab and be ready for the start of the season.
Even if he settles on one starting lineup, it certainly can change as the season progresses. So, here are a few different lineups. The first starting lineup is my best guess at what Geno will go with. The rest? Just some fun!!
Starters (when everyone is healthy)
PG Paige
SG Azzi
SF Caroline
PF Sarah
C Ice
Well, that was tough. I'm taking it back. I have no idea if this is what Geno will do. It's more what I would like to see. Several maybes due to prior injuries, but healthy this is just an amazing lineup. If you are a fan of HS rankings, you have three No. 1's, and two No. 5's.
Three point shooting lineup
PG Paige
SG Ashland
SF Azzi
PF Ducharme
C Sarah
Every one of these players is capable of shooting 40%+ on the season. Good luck stopping them from getting an open three pointer. I can just see them swing passing around the perimeter and on the fifth pass getting an open three. And the best one might still be on the bench in Allie Ziebell.
Rebounding Lineup
PG Paige
SG Sarah
SF Aubrey
PF Ice
C Jana
You could put Ayanna in here for any of the forwards. For sure its a really big lineup and all really good rebounders.
All Quick Lineup
PG KK
SG Ashlynn
SF Qadence
PF Aubrey
C Ayanna
This overall roster is not exactly quick so picking five quick players was not easy. But this is still a very quick lineup. Too small to think Geno will ever play these five together.
What other types of lineups might we see. It's just a very deep, and very varying lineup. A ton of shooters. I didn't even mention Morgan Cheli. She can play the 1-4 positions. I just hope everyone stays healthy so Geno can finally have some depth to work with. He has played 9-10 player rotations before. 13? His head will explode!
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Season Prediction
I'll say it out loud. At this point in time, with all the injured coming back 100%, this UConn team will go undefeated and the game of the year will be No. 1 vs No. 2. UConn vs South Carolina.
The Gamecocks will be amazing next year. They were so deep and their freshmen were just great in the final game. Tess Johnson came into her own with 19 big points going 3-6 on threes. She was so confident. And Fulwiley was so dynamic with her 9 points and 4 assists. They only lose Cardoso from the players who saw minutes against Iowa. Well, "only" is not fair to the impact that will have. She was just so unique and to difficult to defend. Ashlyn Watkins is their best returning big however, she is not on the team at this time due to legal issues. More to come on that during the season. They are still a dynamic team.
Back to UConn. They have a minimum of 7 players that can average double digit scoring. The only thing that would prevent that is Geno spreading around the minutes. As I just wrote there are countless line ups that Geno can use and will use. He hasn't done it often, and usually because is is pissed off with the players on the court, but I can see him doing the "Hockey Line Change" on occassion. Five players being replaced five new players. Crazy.
This will be the last time I say "if healthy". I'm just going to assume that once the last unjured player is back, that everyone will be available. Maybe unrealistic, but I just think the positive vibes help.
I've followed UConn basketball for a long time and this is as talented a roster that the Huskies have had since Diana Taurasi's first two years in a UConn uniform. It's even deeper.
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Monday Starts the regular season!!!
No. 1 South Carolina vs Michigan
No. 3 USC vs No. 20 Ole Miss
No. 5 UCLA vs No. 17 Louisville
No. 6 Notre Dame vs Mercyhurst
No. 8 Iowa State vs Chicago State
No. 10 Oklahoma vs Southern
No. 11 Duke vs Radford
No. 13 Kansas State vs Green Bay
No. 15 North Carolina vs Charleston Southern
No. 18 Maryland vs UMBC
No. 19 Florida State vs North Florida
No. 22 Kentucky vs South Caroline Upstate
No. 23 Nebraska vs Omaha
No. 24 Alabama vs New Orleans
No. 25 Indiana vs Brown
That's 17 top 25 teams playing to open the season. Just awesome!
Looking forward so see how many minutes Amari will get for No. 18 Maryland. And there are two Top 25 teams playing each other. USC should have not problem with Ole Miss. It should be interessting to see how Coach Close does with this strong roster at UCLA in taking on Louisville.
UConn finally opens their season against Boston University on Thursday.
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Straight from the Dog
The Cupcake express has started for LSU. Yes, the first two games have been exhibitions but many of their other OOC games are against similar level teams.
Using Massey.Com, here are their ratings from last year for the teams LSU is playing OOC.
Eastern Kentucky - 209
Northwestern LA - 331
Charleston So - 347
Murray State - 133
Troy - 112
Tulane - 113
Washington - 47
NC Central - 313
Stanford - 3
Grambling - 261
Louisiana - 169
Seton Hall - 66
IL Chicago - 181
Suny Albany - 221
Hey, credit them for playing Stanford. And maybe even Washintgon. But the rest of the OOC schedule is just weak.
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I couldn't trash LSU's OOC schedule without doing the same for Tennessee.
Samford - 256
TN Martin - 195
MTSU - 51
Liberty - 141
W. Carolina - 348
Florida State - 38
Iowa - 4
NC Central - 315
Memphis - 102
Richmond - 81
Winthrop - 349
Connecticut - 2
Congrata on the Iowa and UConn games Tennessee fans.
Note, the new SEC is just a terrific conference. So it's understandable that the teams want to take it easy in the OOC schedule. But South Carolina is playing 2, 8, 9, 13, 21 and 35 in their OOC schedule, so it can be done!
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Can't wait to see what Phil has in store for us this season!!!!!
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By David in Naples
I did get a commitment that David will contribute again this season. Looking forward to his wonderful takes on the Huskies!!
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UCONN LINKS
Several links are pay sites. Sorry!
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Message Boards
UConn Territory - The best UConn women's message board ever!!!
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UCONN Information
UConn 2024-25 Online Media Guide (still last season)
UConn 2024-2025 Statistics (updated after 1st game)
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