Our college basketball preview continues! Tipoff is about three weeks away, and as always there's excitement about the UConn women's basketball team, sparked by a freshman class that's as big and full of potential as any Geno Auriemma has had in a number of years.
But perhaps the Huskies are a bit of a plucky underdog nationally heading into this year? Crystal Dangerfield is gone, and Connecticut is young. There's not a single senior on the roster, but that doesn't mean UConn isn't talented. After introducing the newcomers on the men's team last week, it's time to meet the newcomers on the 2020-21 women's team:
#2 - Autumn Chaisson: The least-heralded of the freshman class, Chaisson is the newest Husky, having joined the team in August as a walk-on. Declining offers from some lower-tiered D-I schools, the Louisiana native impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a spot on the team.
#3 Aaliyah Edwards: Edwards comes to Storrs with more experience than most freshmen. The Ontario native has played with Team Canada since 2017 at various levels, including 14 games with the senior team. A 6-3 forward, she's a top-25 recruit, but one of the consensus five best freshmen forwards in her class with very good athleticism and a knack for rebounding. She will be asked immediately to step in and help Olivia Nelson-Ododa inside, and given the relative lack of depth inside, she might be the most important freshman this year.
Geno says freshman Aaliyah Edwards will have to play a lot this season. Luckily, she's already had experience playing with/against older players— on the senior Canadian national team
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) October 22, 2020
More on her potential from Geno, teammates, & her Canadian team coachhttps://t.co/ziO7rz8RwP
#5 - Paige Bueckers: She's the most-hyped UConn recruit since Breanna Stewart, and the expectations are just as high for the consensus High School Player of the Year and No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2020. She has handles that break ankles, she can dish, she can score and she already has such a celebrity that Geno Auriemma jokes she is his idol.
Is she going to come in and set the college basketball world on fire? Let's pump the brakes a bit. Freshmen at UConn usually take some time to meet their potential. Remember that Stewie struggled mightily as a freshman at times, until using the NCAA Tournament as her own personal coming out party. The same goes for Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and just about every other legend you can name. She'll play and be good, but she has enough backcourt help where she doesn't have to carry the Huskies right away on November 25.
#10 - Nika Muhl: For the second straight season the coaching staff went overseas to nab a recruit. Expected to choose between Louisville, Oregon, Ohio State and USF, an email from Chris Dailey changed everything for the Croatian. Now she's in Storrs as a pass-first point guard, and given the crowded backcourt, how much playing time she'll get will be interesting to see.
#11 - Mir McLean: Another freshman listed in the 5-10/5-11 range, McLean is no point guard. She's an explosive wing with uber-athleticism that allows her to play bigger than her size. It's a shame we didn't get a First Night this season, because watching her and Aubrey Griffin jump out of the gym together would have been a sight to behold. I guess we'll just have to see it in a real game.
#22 - Evina Westbrook: She's been in the program for nearly a year, but we'll finally get to see Westbrook take the court. A transfer from Tennessee, Westbrook tried to play a season ago before having her waiver denied last year by the NCAA. And perhaps it was a blessing? She underwent knee surgery during the season and is now fully healthy. She started every game in her two seasons with the Lady Vols, leading the team in scoring as a sophomore (14.9 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds). With two years of eligibility, she'll take over the point guard duties and was named to the preseason All-Big East team.
#32 - Piath Gabriel: The final member of the freshman class, Gabriel is a 6-5 center from New Hampshire who comes in as a prolific shot blocker. Her brother, Wenyan, spent three years at Kentucky, while Gabriel chose the Huskies over Louisville, Pitt and other notable high-major programs. While Nelson-Ododa, Edwards and Griffin make up the frontcourt, she's bound to get minutes if ONO can't stay out of foul trouble.
