Our streak of getting everything wrong in preseason roundtables is the most impressive accomplishment in sports. Dan Shaughnessy thinks we’re bad for the game (blogging). Today we’ll preview the upcoming UConn women’s basketball season, offer some predictions and give our families and friends fodder to fucking flame us at Flanksgiving™.
To load up on ammunition, check out our past WBB roundtables from 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. You can also read our men’s basketball roundtable here.
Record Prediction
Meghan Bard: 29-1, and it might be Notre Dame and nothing about that is OK with me.
Russ Steinberg: 28-2.
Tyler Wilkinson: 28-2 while obviously not losing a game in their dog shit conference.
Peter Bard: 30-0, don’t @ me.
Best Quality
Russ: Bucket-getting. The team returns two players who shot 45 percent or better from three last year (Samuelson and Dangerfield), plus Collier, who hit at a near-60-percent clip inside. UConn has always been a disciplined and remarkably efficient team offensively and this year will be no different.
Tyler: Senior leadership. I think for the first time since the Stewart/Jefferson/Tuck class left, the best players on the team are also the most experienced, which may help overcome some of the issues they’ve encountered in recent Final Fours.
Meghan: Seniors! Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier are two of the best players in the country, and also the best players on the team.
Peter: Being UConn.
Worst Quality
Peter: N/A
Meghan: Not having Gabby Williams anymore (miss you). But seriously, Gabby and Kia Nurse accounted for lots of minutes in their four years, and they leave huge holes that the team will have to fill. A player like Gabby, who can play in the post, rebound, pass, and handle the ball is only going to come around rarely, and it might take the team a minute to get things right without her.
Tyler: The frontcourt is questionable beyond Collier. Megan Walker is going to have to play big and freshman Olivia Nelson-Ododa is really going to get thrown to the wolves. They can get by with a smaller lineup in AAC play (the conference is dog shit) but it’s hard to see them winning it all without an expectations-exceeding performance by their bigs.
Russ: Losing the 6’6 Azura Stevens hurts a lot. Thankfully Collier is back and Olivia Nelson-Ododa will contribute right away, so while the frontcourt should be fine, it’s not the Godzilla-level-kind-of-unfair-but-thats-what-makes-it-fun monster that it should be.
Team MVP
Peter: There are many options here that could work, but I’m guessing Collier puts up some crazy numbers this year.
Russ: By definition doesn’t it have to be the national player of the year Katie Lou Samuelson?
Tyler: Samuelson
Meghan: Loooouuuuuuu
X Factor
Tyler: Nelson-Ododa, or ONO as I call her (unfortunately pronounced “oh, no!”). If she can figure out how to defend and rebound against high-quality opposing bigs, it’ll free Collier up and lead to a sneaky (for UConn) dangerous offense.
Meghan: Christyn Williams. The number one prospect coming out of high school last year, Williams looks to make an immediate impact. She’s an ambidextrous guard, who Geno apparently said has the potential to be “legendary.” Also, she is delightful and I am very looking forward to enjoying her four years at UConn.
Russ: It’s Megan Walker. She had her moments last year but can REALLY make a difference this year.
Peter: Megan Walker has an insane amount of talent, but was inconsistent last year. If she gets it together this year, this team won’t miss a beat.
First and Second Team All- Americans
Tyler: First Team: KLS and Collier. Second Team: Dangerfield.
Russ: First team: KLS, Collier Second team: Dangerfield
Meghan: First Team: Lou and Napheesa, Second Team: Crystal Dangerfield
Peter: D) All of the above
Breakout Player
Russ: Megan Walker.
Meghan: After a shaky first year, I think Megan Walker is going to make that big jump we’ve seen many UConn players make between freshman and sophomore year. She has loads of talent, a year of Geno experience under her belt, and we saw flashes of brilliance from her last season. My money is on Megan making a huge leap this season.
Peter: Megan Walker (by a nose over Christyn Williams).
Tyler: I think Megan Walker turns up this year, setting the stage for total domination next season.
Leader in Scoring, Rebounding, Assists
Peter: KLS, Collier, Dangerfield
Meghan: Lou, Pheesa, Crystal
Russ: KLS, Collier, Dangerfield
Tyler: KLS, Collier, Dangerfield
Regular Season Losses
Russ: At Notre Dame and at Baylor. Both of those teams are going to be scary. We’ll all be panicking on Jan. 4 when they’re 10-2 then they won’t lose for three more years.
Meghan: Probably at ND, and I will be mad, and if they lose at Louisville I will also be very mad.
Tyler: at Notre Dame and at Louisville.
Peter: Nope.
National Championship or Nah?
Tyler: Hell yea.
Meghan: I will never doubt Geno, no matter what, hell yeah babby, bring us home a trophy.
Peter: Duh, of course.
Russ: Of course.
Great and/or Crazy Thing Geno Says Before the Tournament
Peter: “Anyone who doesn’t believe in Black Santa Claus is a cop.”
Meghan: “I’d like to apologize to everyone for how I’ve ruined women’s basketball. I’m really very sorry. Lol j/k no I’m not, suck it Shaughnessy.”
Russ: “I took Emeka Okafor and Caron Butler. They’re not bad! I can’t take every player.”
Tyler: “People named Paul shouldn’t be allowed to come out of their house.”
Applicable KLS Acrostic
Russ: K ill L the S football program
Peter: K eat L the S rich
Meghan: K Never L et S This bit die
Tyler: K no L hockey S tadium
Wild Card
Meghan: Olivia Nelson-Ododa will dunk in a game this season, and I will make this prediction every year until it happens. Gimme.
Peter: At some point during a game UConn wins by 50 points, a dumb announcer will talk about how UConn isn’t as dominant as they used to be.
Tyler: Dangerfield gets a triple-double at some point this year with points, assists and steals.
Russ: Dan Shaughnessy will not be a guest this season on the Geno Pod.
