If everyone stays healthy, hopefully, playing time will be scarce. This team could cause some jitters in Columbia this year ... and '26 too for that matter
Strong is not yet in UConn shape and is certainly not Geno-ready on defense. Great player and clearly competitive as hell judging by 3x3 but would have to show better D in camp to start the season. Jana is definitely starting as is Paige obviously. Not sure anyone is going to outplay Chen in camp although KK is lightening quick and was the starter last year but Chen is the better shooter and has more experience. We won’t know anything about Ice until the games start but she would have to make a big leap to start (not unheard of at UConn). Shade will start at the beginning of season while Azzi is on minutes. If everyone stays healthy, this is the deepest, best shooting team in Huskie history and will be a match-up nightmare in Geno’s hands come tournament time. The flexibility is scary. Geno could sub to a long line up (Paige, Q, CD, AG, Azzi or Strong); he can go big if necessary (Jana, Ice, Strong, Paige, Shade or one of the freshman guards); he can go all small shooters (Azzi, Shade, Paige, Chen, Kk or Q, assuming Q makes the sophomore leap and has to get playing. Geno can press all game as the team is surprisingly long on defense ( AG, Q, CD, Paige) and is deep and almost positionless. Come what may, offense is running through Paige who, despite all the verbiage, will not change her playmaker spots and will lead team is assists, scoring, minutes and steals. It’s her year and she will be the best player in the country. Azzi will be on minutes at the start of season but will start soon enough. Cannot wait to see her and Paige get into the flow together!! Strong should be a starter by mid-year if she gets flowing and can hold her own on D. She is just better than all the other forwards on the team and the scary thing is she is nowhere close to her ceiling. Since the Big East is weak this year, I think everyone will get a chance to show what they can do before the big game in February (the two other amazing freshman might not see the floor much this year but I hope I am wrong because they are fantastic players), and u think AG and CD should be at full strength by then and be momentum changers off the bench. Unless it’s as a backup center or she actually learned how to shoot during her red-shirt year, I do not see how Patterson gets any playing times. I have rarely seen any UConn player who struggled more on offense. Since I think this team has unmatched potential to get hot and blow-out teams with frightening offensive spurts, I wouldn’t play Patterson unless I had to ( or she magically became way better offensively than we last saw). Gonna be an awesome, healthy year, we hope. Can’t wait to see what the best coach in history does with this talent rich squad ( or how good they will be come tournament time).
@@back2sportsI think we are all hoping the squad is spared the injury bug this year. Huskies have not had good luck health-wise for far too long at this point.
OK I think I fell asleep and you stole my brain! Apparently you actually watch UConn basketball and Geno historically. You nailed my take on Paige. This kid could EASILY get 30 a night but I doubt she'll change her stripes. I'm smh that I agree with you so much! LOL But the thing I love about your post the most is that you're coming from a place of everyone being available whereas most folks want to bring up all the past injuries like they're a given. This team right now - as is - is PEERLESS.
@@alanlee3236 You are hilarious. Great to meet a fellow Huskie fan! Apologies for the slow response. Just now seeing your fab note. I have been a UConn fan forever just because the combo of killer coaching and fabulous players has been one of the most consistently interesting and entertaining on shows on TV, well, since forever. Never been this many good teams in women's basket ball before . Never. If you are a UConn fan you have to be pumped for this year.... Geno rarely over recruits in history but the recent injury curse has changed his approach. This UConn team is stacked. No other team in the country would have a winner like Morgan Cheli (truly a female Magic Johnson if you have never seen her play) come in freshman year and sit for most of the year. Yet I believe Cheli and Ziebell will likely sit most of the year. I believe this is going to be an amazing year maybe even an undefeated year because Paige is quite simply the best player in the country (no offense to JuJu fans). Paige is the Messi of college guards and will put up great numbers that are also balance numbers.....The team will go as far as she wants to take it and will be as determined to win it all as she is... This year is also a wonderful season for What if's ....Such has what happens if magically over the summer Q turned into a young AG type 3-D that can reliable shoot the 3? Or what if Patterson learned how to score? What if CD is completely healthy and cured? What if Ice is in shape, stronger and determined to make the leap now instead of in her Junior year? What if Strong is better than we thought she would be and has unreal chemistry with Paige? What if Chen is even better than we know or if Shade can keep shooting great all season? What if Cheli is so good she can't be kept on the bench? What if Azzi turns into Azzi again? ..the list of What if's -- heck, the list of possible line-ups is tantalizing isn't it? Never seen a team this deep or that has the potential to shoot so well. It's going to be amazing to watch.
Team IMO has to many question marks. Four of the five injured players last year coming off significant injuries along with Caroline who did not seem to be convincing as far as her health in an interview a couple of months ago. Ice needs to make a huge jump, KK and Ash need to adjust to minutes lost. Chen was a great portal acquisition, however in the end, UConn will go as far as Paige decides to take them.
It’s going to be once again 50-point blowouts in the weak Big East. That means lots of minutes for lots of players. But what’s Geno going to do? He likes to go with 7-8 players, but he’s got a dozen of high quality…..assuming of course few or no big injuries.
After seeing her in the 3x3 tournament there’s no way Ice Brady starts ahead of Strong. She’s too versatile not to start. Ice was soft and struggled with physicality and rebounding. Unless there’s an improvement in that department and her shooting, Strong starts. UConn’s best lineup with current available players is Bueckers Chen Shade Strong and El Alfy
Ice at her most confident would beat out Sarah Strong. This is of course, my opinion, but the girl has mad skills. What shows up on the court , though depends on what's happening between her ears. One of the things I loved seeing so much last season amid the mistakes and bricks, was her running back to the other end of the court. She is a basketball player through and through, and if she steps up to just being who she is, she will inspire Sarah to be even greater.
I'm a fan of UConn, is Azzi Fudd good enough to plays in the WNBA if healthy, and is she a first-round pick, her height 5'11" and Paige Bueckers is 6'0" but she looks more than an inch taller than (AF).
Btw B2S here is an interesting subject to explore: Impactful WBNA acquisitions made during last offseason and in season e.g. acquisition of Alana Smith and Courtney Williams by the MN Lynx and their trade in season for Misha Hines-Allen
Paige, Chen, Azzi, Strong, Jana is the best lineup. Paige, Chen, Shade, Ice , Jana will be the starting at the beginning of the szn then mid season things will change.
Hey B2S are you sleeping or what???How about a WNBA regular season award show??? Here are mines. MVP : unanimous Aja Wilson with Napheesa Collier runner up ROY : unanimous Caitlin Clark with Angel Reece a distant second Most Improved player: Bridgette Carlton with Carrington of the CT Sun second DPOY : Aja Wilson Most Impactful Acquisitions: Alana Smith and Courtney Williams to the Lynx in the offseason. Most Impactful trade: Misha Hines-Allen to the Lynx a few weeks ago. Most improved team: MN Lynx
@@back2sports Seeing what play? Paige shooting for a potential tie or win? If Connecticut fans were “cheated” out of that, Edwards is the person who cheated them. The refs simply made the correct call of an offensive foul. Iowa would have been cheated had the refs turned that foul into a no-call.
speaking as a UConn fan, I was thrilled that we got Strong. but: let's temper our expectations. certainly let's not expect too much in her freshman year. meanwhile, let's not forget that in the draft UConn lost out of Koval (went to Notre Dame) and Tac (went to S. Carolina); Koval especially would've been nice to have for when we want a true center (Strong is really a power forward). but the biggest loss was not getting the transfer Beers (chose Oklahoma). that really hurt. she's a known quantity who could've fit right in right away. she could have put UConn on a par with S. Carolina. without Beers, UConn is not on a par with S. Carolina. I've got my fingers crossed re El Alfy but she too will need time to develop (though not as much, I imagine, as Strong).
So what, we should be crying over spilled milk and regretting missing out on (unarguably) great prospects instead of getting hyped about the number one prospect?? Come on, that's not logical. I agree that everyone should manage expectations, but there's a reason Sarah Strong was the #1 recruit and not Koval or Tac. But I DO have opinions about Beers - you got me started. I think she would have been a great fit at UConn and then ultimately a solid first round draftee next year, but she made her choice. And while she will probably still be drafted in the first round, her choice to join a coach's team who has zero WNBA players over the coach who has the most players by far in the league will ultimately cost her. There are several great college bigs who didn't transition well to the W, and I think that's because something was exposed during their rookie tryouts that turned out to be a flaw in their respective games. Any way blah blah blah, sorry for ranting on your post. Just felt the need to get that out of my system about Beers LOL Take care!
@user-tz9rp2uw8e hey, I welcome your comment. I am excited about Sarah Strong but I don't expect her to be a GREAT player, certainly not this year. whereas, as I said, Beers, as a transfer, could've contributed right away, and I really want UConn to beat S. Carolina! but S. C. is LOADED with talent. and going back to Strong, yes she was a #1, and she can play inside/outside, but I think we have to wait and see how she does. she'll be up against bigger and faster players than in high school.
The Bascom comparison is really good... there is this video here: ua-cam.com/video/qTe_2cUhd88/v-deo.html that lists her as #9 in the top 10 of all time uconn wbb players so definitely high praise from Geno there. To answer ur question at the end I def think she will be in the starting 5. Sarah's ceiling is incredibly high. She just looks so smooth out there playing and her game is just going to get better (as spectacular as it already is)
I think you might be off on this. What made Aaliyah special her freshman year was her motor. She gave it all every moment she was in the lineup. Her skills weren't as polished as Sarah's are at this point in her young career. For instance, Edwards didn't have a consistent jumper until her junior year, let alone 3 point range. That said, if you are right and Sarah has the same motor, watch out NCAA because there won't be any stopping the Huskies. I hope you are 100% on this!
@@sportgeek2028 since she's the number one recruit in the country she may struggle a bit and be under a lot of pressure when the team plays South Carolina
@@michaellawson7927 nope South Carolina had a 6’7 center and Aliyah Boston for 5 years …let’s see how reality hits them when they aren’t bigger than everybody
She is a day 1 starter. I am surprised that there are some in the uconn fanbase that don't see it. Her and El Alfy both have to be great. If one of them struggles or underperforms; then UConn has no shot at a title. Even if they are great. UConn are not the favorites. They are not athletic enough. They still have less talent than some of their rivals.
@@TheDisruptiveOne yea her starting isn’t even an argument. She brings more to the table than Ice. Ice will be solid off the bench. So will KK. I don’t think her and El Alfy have to be great for uconn to have a shot at the title tho. We’ve seen Paige take lesser teams to the final four. If they’re both solid or one is great and the other is solid then we have a good shot. They both can’t be bad
Nice take. I cannot see her starting over Jana because Jana is a juggernaut, a warrior, a very skilled warrior. This may sound hateful and it isn't my intent, but Brady is a head case in that her emotions really screw up her game confidence. Will Sarah start? Depends on training camp, but unless she implodes which is highly unlikely, she will get significant minutes.
Maybe I haven't seen enough film. But it's doubtful to me she will make a starter her freshman year, unless she's way better than she's touted. Last year was strange, with two frosh getting in the starting five, but that was down to injury. With Aubrey returning from injury and limited on minutes before going out permanently and Caroline out due to concussion and neck stiffness issues (still not resolved in my mind; maybe she shouldn't play, if she's injury prone. Of course I know she doesn't want to hear that.) that opened the roster spots. Ditto Ice versus Ayanna. I'm not saying the freshman wouldn't have played at all, but they'd never have gotten those minutes without the injuries. There will be strong pressure on the guard roster with Azzi and possibly Caroline coming back, plus Allie and Morgan waiting in the wings. Ditto for the bigs; Jana looks to have to have the center slot sewn up, if she's as good as advertised, but the power forward position will be a battle, with Ice and Ayanna before Sarah even shows up. And who knows if Q will get over the freshman jitters? The tall shooting guard is locked up with Paige, at least for next year. I don't want to go out on a limb here, but if everyone stays healthy-- big if-- Geno looks to have the good type of problem next year, with people sitting on the bench who'd be starting anywhere else. Imagine Geno having two complete teams!
@@JohnLake-rl6ot I can agree if you say she's better right now than Ice was last season. We do not yet know what Ice will bring this year. Maybe nothing, maybe there's something there. One thing is certain: Geno doesn't like to pile too much weight on a freshman. He prefers to break them in easy, unless it's somebody like Paige.
@@dominictramonte2687 her play at 3x3 was better than anything I saw Ice do last year. Sarah is starting. I don’t think Aubrey will be making an appearance until January. Ayanna is too much of a wild card
I've seen enough film of Strong and without any reservation, she's overrated just like past #1 picks for UConn, Megan Walker, C. Williams, #2 Evina Westbrook, and yes, even Azzi Fudd and Paige B. My guess is that Strong was a "silent" commit because her mother works in the ESPN/UConn area. Hoopgurlz took away the #1 position that WAS Joyce Edwards and "gave" it to Strong. Crooked as hell.
Nice find with the grainy 80s footage. Big hair indeed! I don't see a very high ceiling for Ice. If Strong lives up to the hype, I expect her to surpass Ice quickly. I don't see why Geno would mess around waiting for Ice to significantly improve in Paige's last year if Strong proves to be better right away.
Dear back to sports guy no one has ever did an analysis of female college basketball players most likely to make the hall of fame I think it would be a good segment.
With the injury history of the current Huskies, I can't *really* give you a starting lineup without knowing who's going to be healthy. Having said that, I'll guess that she starts but doesn't put up monster numbers. On the other hand, with Edwards gone the Huskies have a massive inside scoring hole to fill, so somebody out of El Alfy, Brady, and Strong probably ends up with the role.
It felt good to go on to NCAA speculation. The end of the WNBA season will be fun, but the college game is fun in a different way. Thanks.
If everyone stays healthy, hopefully, playing time will be scarce. This team could cause some jitters in Columbia this year ... and '26 too for that matter
Strong is not yet in UConn shape and is certainly not Geno-ready on defense. Great player and clearly competitive as hell judging by 3x3 but would have to show better D in camp to start the season. Jana is definitely starting as is Paige obviously. Not sure anyone is going to outplay Chen in camp although KK is lightening quick and was the starter last year but Chen is the better shooter and has more experience. We won’t know anything about Ice until the games start but she would have to make a big leap to start (not unheard of at UConn). Shade will start at the beginning of season while Azzi is on minutes. If everyone stays healthy, this is the deepest, best shooting team in Huskie history and will be a match-up nightmare in Geno’s hands come tournament time. The flexibility is scary. Geno could sub to a long line up (Paige, Q, CD, AG, Azzi or Strong); he can go big if necessary (Jana, Ice, Strong, Paige, Shade or one of the freshman guards); he can go all small shooters (Azzi, Shade, Paige, Chen, Kk or Q, assuming Q makes the sophomore leap and has to get playing. Geno can press all game as the team is surprisingly long on defense ( AG, Q, CD, Paige) and is deep and almost positionless. Come what may, offense is running through Paige who, despite all the verbiage, will not change her playmaker spots and will lead team is assists, scoring, minutes and steals. It’s her year and she will be the best player in the country. Azzi will be on minutes at the start of season but will start soon enough. Cannot wait to see her and Paige get into the flow together!! Strong should be a starter by mid-year if she gets flowing and can hold her own on D. She is just better than all the other forwards on the team and the scary thing is she is nowhere close to her ceiling. Since the Big East is weak this year, I think everyone will get a chance to show what they can do before the big game in February (the two other amazing freshman might not see the floor much this year but I hope I am wrong because they are fantastic players), and u think AG and CD should be at full strength by then and be momentum changers off the bench. Unless it’s as a backup center or she actually learned how to shoot during her red-shirt year, I do not see how Patterson gets any playing times. I have rarely seen any UConn player who struggled more on offense. Since I think this team has unmatched potential to get hot and blow-out teams with frightening offensive spurts, I wouldn’t play Patterson unless I had to ( or she magically became way better offensively than we last saw). Gonna be an awesome, healthy year, we hope. Can’t wait to see what the best coach in history does with this talent rich squad ( or how good they will be come tournament time).
Let them be healthy. Keen to watch team shape out
@@back2sportsI think we are all hoping the squad is spared the injury bug this year. Huskies have not had good luck health-wise for far too long at this point.
OK I think I fell asleep and you stole my brain! Apparently you actually watch UConn basketball and Geno historically. You nailed my take on Paige. This kid could EASILY get 30 a night but I doubt she'll change her stripes. I'm smh that I agree with you so much! LOL But the thing I love about your post the most is that you're coming from a place of everyone being available whereas most folks want to bring up all the past injuries like they're a given. This team right now - as is - is PEERLESS.
@@alanlee3236 You are hilarious. Great to meet a fellow Huskie fan! Apologies for the slow response. Just now seeing your fab note. I have been a UConn fan forever just because the combo of killer coaching and fabulous players has been one of the most consistently interesting and entertaining on shows on TV, well, since forever. Never been this many good teams in women's basket ball before . Never. If you are a UConn fan you have to be pumped for this year.... Geno rarely over recruits in history but the recent injury curse has changed his approach. This UConn team is stacked. No other team in the country would have a winner like Morgan Cheli (truly a female Magic Johnson if you have never seen her play) come in freshman year and sit for most of the year. Yet I believe Cheli and Ziebell will likely sit most of the year. I believe this is going to be an amazing year maybe even an undefeated year because Paige is quite simply the best player in the country (no offense to JuJu fans). Paige is the Messi of college guards and will put up great numbers that are also balance numbers.....The team will go as far as she wants to take it and will be as determined to win it all as she is... This year is also a wonderful season for What if's ....Such has what happens if magically over the summer Q turned into a young AG type 3-D that can reliable shoot the 3? Or what if Patterson learned how to score? What if CD is completely healthy and cured? What if Ice is in shape, stronger and determined to make the leap now instead of in her Junior year? What if Strong is better than we thought she would be and has unreal chemistry with Paige? What if Chen is even better than we know or if Shade can keep shooting great all season? What if Cheli is so good she can't be kept on the bench? What if Azzi turns into Azzi again? ..the list of What if's -- heck, the list of possible line-ups is tantalizing isn't it? Never seen a team this deep or that has the potential to shoot so well. It's going to be amazing to watch.
Team IMO has to many question marks. Four of the five injured players last year coming off significant injuries along with Caroline who did not seem to be convincing as far as her health in an interview a couple of months ago. Ice needs to make a huge jump, KK and Ash need to adjust to minutes lost. Chen was a great portal acquisition, however in the end, UConn will go as far as Paige decides to take them.
It’s going to be once again 50-point blowouts in the weak Big East. That means lots of minutes for lots of players. But what’s Geno going to do? He likes to go with 7-8 players, but he’s got a dozen of high quality…..assuming of course few or no big injuries.
After seeing her in the 3x3 tournament there’s no way Ice Brady starts ahead of Strong. She’s too versatile not to start. Ice was soft and struggled with physicality and rebounding. Unless there’s an improvement in that department and her shooting, Strong starts. UConn’s best lineup with current available players is Bueckers Chen Shade Strong and El Alfy
Ice at her most confident would beat out Sarah Strong. This is of course, my opinion, but the girl has mad skills. What shows up on the court , though depends on what's happening between her ears. One of the things I loved seeing so much last season amid the mistakes and bricks, was her running back to the other end of the court. She is a basketball player through and through, and if she steps up to just being who she is, she will inspire Sarah to be even greater.
I'm a fan of UConn, is Azzi Fudd good enough to plays in the WNBA if healthy, and is she a first-round pick, her height 5'11" and Paige Bueckers is 6'0" but she looks more than an inch taller than (AF).
Btw B2S here is an interesting subject to explore: Impactful WBNA acquisitions made during last offseason and in season e.g. acquisition of Alana Smith and Courtney Williams by the MN Lynx and their trade in season for Misha Hines-Allen
Yep that's the move of the year by the mystics.
Paige, Chen, Azzi, Strong, Jana is the best lineup.
Paige, Chen, Shade, Ice , Jana will be the starting at the beginning of the szn then mid season things will change.
When you struggle with (I don't even want to say it), you struggle with injuries, I hope that is not the case here.
Geno the CC hater. All these young ladies should stay with the local college and up lift them
Gonzalez Susan Taylor Jessica Miller Helen
Hey B2S are you sleeping or what???How about a WNBA regular season award show??? Here are mines.
MVP : unanimous Aja Wilson with Napheesa Collier runner up
ROY : unanimous Caitlin Clark with Angel Reece a distant second
Most Improved player: Bridgette Carlton with Carrington of the CT Sun second
DPOY : Aja Wilson
Most Impactful Acquisitions: Alana Smith and Courtney Williams to the Lynx in the offseason.
Most Impactful trade: Misha Hines-Allen to the Lynx a few weeks ago.
Most improved team: MN Lynx
Azzi Dudd want make it through season without injury, so Strong will be able to outshine her.
Azzi Fudd has been outplayed in every area by Ashlyn Shade. For Geno to EVEN consider starting Fudd over Shade is ridiculous.
Connecticut fans were not cheated out of anything against Iowa.
Seeing the play.
@@back2sports
Seeing what play? Paige shooting for a potential tie or win? If Connecticut fans were “cheated” out of that, Edwards is the person who cheated them. The refs simply made the correct call of an offensive foul. Iowa would have been cheated had the refs turned that foul into a no-call.
@@RichardIILionheart Paige "folds" in high stake Final Four games and that WAS a moving screen by Edwards. PERIOD.T
49517 Ferry Lock
speaking as a UConn fan, I was thrilled that we got Strong. but: let's temper our expectations. certainly let's not expect too much in her freshman year. meanwhile, let's not forget that in the draft UConn lost out of Koval (went to Notre Dame) and Tac (went to S. Carolina); Koval especially would've been nice to have for when we want a true center (Strong is really a power forward). but the biggest loss was not getting the transfer Beers (chose Oklahoma). that really hurt. she's a known quantity who could've fit right in right away. she could have put UConn on a par with S. Carolina. without Beers, UConn is not on a par with S. Carolina. I've got my fingers crossed re El Alfy but she too will need time to develop (though not as much, I imagine, as Strong).
So what, we should be crying over spilled milk and regretting missing out on (unarguably) great prospects instead of getting hyped about the number one prospect?? Come on, that's not logical. I agree that everyone should manage expectations, but there's a reason Sarah Strong was the #1 recruit and not Koval or Tac.
But I DO have opinions about Beers - you got me started. I think she would have been a great fit at UConn and then ultimately a solid first round draftee next year, but she made her choice. And while she will probably still be drafted in the first round, her choice to join a coach's team who has zero WNBA players over the coach who has the most players by far in the league will ultimately cost her. There are several great college bigs who didn't transition well to the W, and I think that's because something was exposed during their rookie tryouts that turned out to be a flaw in their respective games. Any way blah blah blah, sorry for ranting on your post. Just felt the need to get that out of my system about Beers LOL Take care!
@user-tz9rp2uw8e hey, I welcome your comment. I am excited about Sarah Strong but I don't expect her to be a GREAT player, certainly not this year.
whereas, as I said, Beers, as a transfer, could've contributed right away, and I really want UConn to beat S. Carolina! but S. C. is LOADED with talent.
and going back to Strong, yes she was a #1, and she can play inside/outside, but I think we have to wait and see how she does. she'll be up against bigger and faster players than in high school.
The Bascom comparison is really good... there is this video here: ua-cam.com/video/qTe_2cUhd88/v-deo.html that lists her as #9 in the top 10 of all time uconn wbb players so definitely high praise from Geno there.
To answer ur question at the end I def think she will be in the starting 5. Sarah's ceiling is incredibly high. She just looks so smooth out there playing and her game is just going to get better (as spectacular as it already is)
Thanks for the link!!!
She needs to work on her agility, the pace is different
Uconn lost twice time national championship already 2023 2024 , not good anymore
Sarah Strong freshman year will be like Alliyah Edwards freshman year .There will be learning curves along the way
I think you might be off on this. What made Aaliyah special her freshman year was her motor. She gave it all every moment she was in the lineup. Her skills weren't as polished as Sarah's are at this point in her young career. For instance, Edwards didn't have a consistent jumper until her junior year, let alone 3 point range. That said, if you are right and Sarah has the same motor, watch out NCAA because there won't be any stopping the Huskies.
I hope you are 100% on this!
She’s 10x better than Aliyah Edwards …Edwards can’t shoot deep 3’s just stop only thing edwards is better probably on defense
@@sportgeek2028 since she's the number one recruit in the country she may struggle a bit and be under a lot of pressure when the team plays South Carolina
@@alanlee3236 I hope so too however she's surrounded by great talent not mentioning any names
@@michaellawson7927 nope South Carolina had a 6’7 center and Aliyah Boston for 5 years …let’s see how reality hits them when they aren’t bigger than everybody
Starter all year, dominates once Paige moves on.
She is a day 1 starter. I am surprised that there are some in the uconn fanbase that don't see it. Her and El Alfy both have to be great. If one of them struggles or underperforms; then UConn has no shot at a title.
Even if they are great. UConn are not the favorites. They are not athletic enough. They still have less talent than some of their rivals.
@@TheDisruptiveOne yea her starting isn’t even an argument. She brings more to the table than Ice. Ice will be solid off the bench. So will KK. I don’t think her and El Alfy have to be great for uconn to have a shot at the title tho. We’ve seen Paige take lesser teams to the final four. If they’re both solid or one is great and the other is solid then we have a good shot. They both can’t be bad
Once again, @TheDisruptiveOne, I HIGHLY agree! YOU ARE WATCHING! Strong has ZERO "dog" in her, too shy, too immature.
@@bennybenson5 FACT, neither Strong nor El Alfy will EVER replace Aliyah Edwards, never.
Nice take. I cannot see her starting over Jana because Jana is a juggernaut, a warrior, a very skilled warrior. This may sound hateful and it isn't my intent, but Brady is a head case in that her emotions really screw up her game confidence. Will Sarah start? Depends on training camp, but unless she implodes which is highly unlikely, she will get significant minutes.
TBD on ice
Maybe I haven't seen enough film. But it's doubtful to me she will make a starter her freshman year, unless she's way better than she's touted. Last year was strange, with two frosh getting in the starting five, but that was down to injury. With Aubrey returning from injury and limited on minutes before going out permanently and Caroline out due to concussion and neck stiffness issues (still not resolved in my mind; maybe she shouldn't play, if she's injury prone. Of course I know she doesn't want to hear that.) that opened the roster spots. Ditto Ice versus Ayanna. I'm not saying the freshman wouldn't have played at all, but they'd never have gotten those minutes without the injuries. There will be strong pressure on the guard roster with Azzi and possibly Caroline coming back, plus Allie and Morgan waiting in the wings. Ditto for the bigs; Jana looks to have to have the center slot sewn up, if she's as good as advertised, but the power forward position will be a battle, with Ice and Ayanna before Sarah even shows up. And who knows if Q will get over the freshman jitters? The tall shooting guard is locked up with Paige, at least for next year.
I don't want to go out on a limb here, but if everyone stays healthy-- big if-- Geno looks to have the good type of problem next year, with people sitting on the bench who'd be starting anywhere else. Imagine Geno having two complete teams!
Reading some comments, she is better than ice right now, that is a fact
@@JohnLake-rl6ot I can agree if you say she's better right now than Ice was last season. We do not yet know what Ice will bring this year. Maybe nothing, maybe there's something there.
One thing is certain: Geno doesn't like to pile too much weight on a freshman. He prefers to break them in easy, unless it's somebody like Paige.
@@dominictramonte2687 her play at 3x3 was better than anything I saw Ice do last year. Sarah is starting. I don’t think Aubrey will be making an appearance until January. Ayanna is too much of a wild card
@@bennybenson5 Time will tell. I will not be surprised if you're right. She's the number one for a reason.
I've seen enough film of Strong and without any reservation, she's overrated just like past #1 picks for UConn, Megan Walker, C. Williams, #2 Evina Westbrook, and yes, even Azzi Fudd and Paige B. My guess is that Strong was a "silent" commit because her mother works in the ESPN/UConn area. Hoopgurlz took away the #1 position that WAS Joyce Edwards and "gave" it to Strong. Crooked as hell.
Nice find with the grainy 80s footage. Big hair indeed! I don't see a very high ceiling for Ice. If Strong lives up to the hype, I expect her to surpass Ice quickly. I don't see why Geno would mess around waiting for Ice to significantly improve in Paige's last year if Strong proves to be better right away.
Excellent take even though there is nothing new here
Sarah Strong will be in the starting 5 by midseason or earlier
Dear back to sports guy no one has ever did an analysis of female college basketball players most likely to make the hall of fame I think it would be a good segment.
Will.see - thanks
With the injury history of the current Huskies, I can't *really* give you a starting lineup without knowing who's going to be healthy.
Having said that, I'll guess that she starts but doesn't put up monster numbers. On the other hand, with Edwards gone the Huskies have a massive inside scoring hole to fill, so somebody out of El Alfy, Brady, and Strong probably ends up with the role.