Reason why UConn lost that ND game was bcoz Gino wanted to it to be a team play rather than a Strong-Bueckers game - these two produced on that game with so limited plays that involved them ON-BALL. Sarah is a really good passer off the top and posts. On 3 pointers - her top of the key when you left her on ball screens is knocked down. She's small for a PF but she doesn't have to play inside the paint too much - she's more of a PERIMETER player vs most PFs.
@natureredux1957 Fudd has been out a lot for the past two years, so I don't really think about her being out. Even though Sarah was in foul trouble early, they could've caused more foul troubles against ND if there are more Screening Actions that involves Sarah and Paige. With Paige being offball, they were actually allowing Citron to be more effective - bcoz she's a better offball defender than on-ball. Paige cooked her in like 2x where it was her who attacked the basket VS. her being ineffective in cuts and catch&shoots.
Once Strong went out with foul trouble and Shade didn't score a point the whole game and Azzi wasn't playing Im surprised the game was close at all. If were healthy we'd beat Notre Dame by 20. No disrespect to Notre Dame. But when healthy UConn is at a different level. I dont care if Hidalgo scores 40.
Great analysis. I've been toying with this idea that the UCONN scheme is really built to showcase a dominant wing/forward player, due it's scripted swing read based offence and lack of emphasis on dominant guard play
UConn has never really been a very heavy on-ball screening team, it’s a lot of off ball screening and movement. But when there’s such a talent disparity between your number 1 and 2 options (Paige and Sarah) and the rest of the team, I think Geno has to make the adjustment and run more of that two-man game. Undoubtedly one of the best coaches of all time but Geno’s too stubborn in his ways sometimes.
You didn’t even talk about her rebounding, which I think she has elite upside with. Her positioning, strength, and second jump quickness (despite her lack of verticality) is quietly scary elite. Angel Reese level upside imo
Hunter, where did you come from? I just discovered your show today and was pleasantly engaged in the assessment of Uconn/Strong. What a good, make-sense, brilliant guy. I'm a huge FAN. thank you
Her amazing skills will improve because she is in a culture of basketball where previous teams at UCONN have won 11 National Championships! What she does cannot be analyzed without adding in that factor. Sarah has the best women's basketball coach in the country, she has the best assistant coach and staff and she is playing with the best players in the country. She is also at UCONN where the basketball culture is extremely high. And, she has the best FAN BASE in the country...they show up wherever UCONN plays. I know. I live in CT, was born and grew up here. Sarah is one of many UCONN All Americans, and we have the the good fortune to have her and to support her. Don't try to get a ticket to a UCONN game because they are almost always sold out. Sarah is off the charts amazing, however, "There is no "I" in the word team". She's part of a team and WITH THEM she's going go grow amazingly. Look at what happened with Caitlin Clark...she never won a National Championship because she did not have the supporting elements that Sarah Strong has. Sarah says she came to UCONN to win National Championship. YUP!
I have a question Hunter: If they all were to reach their full potential, how would you rank the following players: Caitlin, Paige, JuJu, Flaujae, Hildago, Strong.
@@HunterCruse14It’s quite ironic then that Hannah is honestly outperforming all of them except Caitlin who’s not in college anymore. Shows you how important having the right circumstances are.
@@dewuster8885 Oh brother another "She was Caitlin before Caitlin" narrative talking point that won't end. You do know y'all insult Paige or downgrade her prowess as a player when y'all talk in "what ifs"?
There is good value if you want to gamble on Sarah Strong for national player of the year. $1 on DraftKings would net you $250 if she were to win. I think she is an unlikely winner. But that’s just insanely good value.
I'd like to see her drive left sometimes, and mix her drives up with some spins/hesi, 'cause good teams are going to scheme for her strong points. She got all the time in the world, it's crazy how good she already is. When she gains momentum she's so strong it's like trying to stop a wrecking ball, and her ability to control her body in any situation is absurd. I think only Notre Dame managed to get her into foul trouble thanks to Hannah being Hannah.
I've been saying this to friends: Paige is UConn's most important player, and ultimately our success will be determined by how well she plays. But even now our best player might be Sarah Strong.
She is so so good, i wish she didnt go to ucon tho, coz that passing +inverted PnR on higher % usage as main option >has insane upside and wouldnt be developed as much in scripted system. As others ahve mention in ND game... she and paige should have had more 2man game but no.. .it has to be the ""UCON GENO WAY BRO"
I’m not even worried about azzi I want griffin to come back her length will be a factor for them to win. Because she can guard a juju 2-5 so ice being cold their running Paige sometimes at the four they got a load of guards the bigs are what they need. Strong may have a better/e impact yr then Paige did. Geno needs to utilize these two more their Princeton offense is so frustrating love when strong takes control or Paige two man
Here's some blasphemy for you...Sarah Strong is the best player on UCONN right now. Paige could be better, but RIGHT NOW Sarah is playing better. And I think a big reason for that is Geno forcing Paige to be what she is not. Playing her at the 4 all last year messed up her game, and the reality is that Paige is a natural PG, not a 2 or a 3. He forced her out of the 1 to force her to score more, but it was a mistake. And Chen is frankly not that good.
They play USF, South Carolina, USC, ND, Iowa St., Ole Miss, Louisville, Tennessee, and UNC this year. They will play Ohio State next season. It is hilarious how everyone assumes any team is weak just because UConn blows them out meanwhile other good or ranked teams have close games with the same teams
Reason why UConn lost that ND game was bcoz Gino wanted to it to be a team play rather than a Strong-Bueckers game - these two produced on that game with so limited plays that involved them ON-BALL.
Sarah is a really good passer off the top and posts. On 3 pointers - her top of the key when you left her on ball screens is knocked down.
She's small for a PF but she doesn't have to play inside the paint too much - she's more of a PERIMETER player vs most PFs.
So you missed that Strong had 3 early fouls and they were missing their Key Player, Fudd.
@natureredux1957 Fudd has been out a lot for the past two years, so I don't really think about her being out. Even though Sarah was in foul trouble early, they could've caused more foul troubles against ND if there are more Screening Actions that involves Sarah and Paige.
With Paige being offball, they were actually allowing Citron to be more effective - bcoz she's a better offball defender than on-ball.
Paige cooked her in like 2x where it was her who attacked the basket VS. her being ineffective in cuts and catch&shoots.
Once Strong went out with foul trouble and Shade didn't score a point the whole game and Azzi wasn't playing Im surprised the game was close at all. If were healthy we'd beat Notre Dame by 20. No disrespect to Notre Dame. But when healthy UConn is at a different level. I dont care if Hidalgo scores 40.
Great analysis. I've been toying with this idea that the UCONN scheme is really built to showcase a dominant wing/forward player, due it's scripted swing read based offence and lack of emphasis on dominant guard play
Agreed fully
What an athlete! The kind of skillful player that will bring more fans to the women’s game.
Great stuff hunter very thorough
Much appreciated
UConn has never really been a very heavy on-ball screening team, it’s a lot of off ball screening and movement. But when there’s such a talent disparity between your number 1 and 2 options (Paige and Sarah) and the rest of the team, I think Geno has to make the adjustment and run more of that two-man game. Undoubtedly one of the best coaches of all time but Geno’s too stubborn in his ways sometimes.
Fudd is just as much of an option as anyone on that team when healthy. What have you been watching.
@@natureredux1957 she's not playing right now.
@@survivorswapped7637 Well outside of maybe SC, nobody is winning without most if not all of their STAR players. So GENO is doing more then just okay.
Great video Hunter! Sarah will be a UConn legend
You didn’t even talk about her rebounding, which I think she has elite upside with. Her positioning, strength, and second jump quickness (despite her lack of verticality) is quietly scary elite. Angel Reese level upside imo
Excellent video- discussed details that are interesting, relevant, and what others do not talk about.
Sarah is a special young women. I’m hoping Z comes back soon so we can watch a complete team.
Great video
Hunter, where did you come from? I just discovered your show today and was pleasantly engaged in the assessment of Uconn/Strong. What a good, make-sense, brilliant guy. I'm a huge FAN. thank you
Haha Thank you!
Her amazing skills will improve because she is in a culture of basketball where previous teams at UCONN have won 11 National Championships! What she does cannot be analyzed without adding in that factor. Sarah has the best women's basketball coach in the country, she has the best assistant coach and staff and she is playing with the best players in the country. She is also at UCONN where the basketball culture is extremely high. And, she has the best FAN BASE in the country...they show up wherever UCONN plays. I know. I live in CT, was born and grew up here.
Sarah is one of many UCONN All Americans, and we have the the good fortune to have her and to support her. Don't try to get a ticket to a UCONN game because they are almost always sold out. Sarah is off the charts amazing, however, "There is no "I" in the word team". She's part of a team and WITH THEM she's going go grow amazingly. Look at what happened with Caitlin Clark...she never won a National Championship because she did not have the supporting elements that Sarah Strong has. Sarah says she came to UCONN to win National Championship. YUP!
She is future mixture of maya moore and Stewart
If you just looked at the 11 game O and D stats, it's Napheesa Collier, sophomore season.
I have a question Hunter: If they all were to reach their full potential, how would you rank the following players: Caitlin, Paige, JuJu, Flaujae, Hildago, Strong.
Caitlin
Paige
JuJu
Sarah
Flau’jae
Hidalgo (only because of size & if you’re asking who is best if they hit their high-end outcome)
@@HunterCruse14It’s quite ironic then that Hannah is honestly outperforming all of them except Caitlin who’s not in college anymore. Shows you how important having the right circumstances are.
Paige Sarah JuJu Hannah
@@dewuster8885 Oh brother another "She was Caitlin before Caitlin" narrative talking point that won't end. You do know y'all insult Paige or downgrade her prowess as a player when y'all talk in "what ifs"?
the free throw rate for UCONN games are funny bc basically them and their opponents barely shoot free throws. aubrey griffin should help that out
There is good value if you want to gamble on Sarah Strong for national player of the year. $1 on DraftKings would net you $250 if she were to win. I think she is an unlikely winner. But that’s just insanely good value.
I'd like to see her drive left sometimes, and mix her drives up with some spins/hesi, 'cause good teams are going to scheme for her strong points. She got all the time in the world, it's crazy how good she already is. When she gains momentum she's so strong it's like trying to stop a wrecking ball, and her ability to control her body in any situation is absurd. I think only Notre Dame managed to get her into foul trouble thanks to Hannah being Hannah.
I've been saying this to friends: Paige is UConn's most important player, and ultimately our success will be determined by how well she plays. But even now our best player might be Sarah Strong.
She is so so good, i wish she didnt go to ucon tho, coz that passing +inverted PnR on higher % usage as main option >has insane upside and wouldnt be developed as much in scripted system.
As others ahve mention in ND game... she and paige should have had more 2man game but no.. .it has to be the ""UCON GENO WAY BRO"
It’s here then Miller for me as best freshmen. Great video 👑
McMiller?
@ yes! So talented
What were Hidalgo's freshman numbers?
Syla Swords from Michigan is having a great start
My FOTY
#UConnStrong 💪🏾
I’m not even worried about azzi I want griffin to come back her length will be a factor for them to win. Because she can guard a juju 2-5 so ice being cold their running Paige sometimes at the four they got a load of guards the bigs are what they need. Strong may have a better/e impact yr then Paige did. Geno needs to utilize these two more their Princeton offense is so frustrating love when strong takes control or Paige two man
Definitely ROTY
Before u say shes the best freshman kyomi miller at Rutgers is tops also ur saying strong is because shes at UConn
Oh brother just say you hate UConn. Rutgers haven’t played a single ranked team yet. No one is respected until they play real teams
SC fan
Here's some blasphemy for you...Sarah Strong is the best player on UCONN right now. Paige could be better, but RIGHT NOW Sarah is playing better. And I think a big reason for that is Geno forcing Paige to be what she is not. Playing her at the 4 all last year messed up her game, and the reality is that Paige is a natural PG, not a 2 or a 3. He forced her out of the 1 to force her to score more, but it was a mistake. And Chen is frankly not that good.
Hard to argue with that for sure
"If I was Geno" bahahahaha, your not. Armchair quarterbacking is easy.
I said they should run actions w/ their 2 best players. I didn’t throw out some crazy concept
But they play weak teams. Wait until they are in conference even though it’s weak.
There non conference schedule isn’t weak and the big east has NCAA tournament teams so it isn’t that weak
ND isn't a weak team!!!
*@bjtesch9571*
Exactly, which is probably why they lost, my friend. †
They play USF, South Carolina, USC, ND, Iowa St., Ole Miss, Louisville, Tennessee, and UNC this year. They will play Ohio State next season. It is hilarious how everyone assumes any team is weak just because UConn blows them out meanwhile other good or ranked teams have close games with the same teams
@@Mr..G Because those refs pretended to be blind so they didn't have to give UConn an extra six missed free throws. That's why they lost, my friend.