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A blog on UConn women's basketball.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Decision time

At some point in the next five, one member of the Connecticut Sun will be let go as Anete Jekabsone-Zogota will be activated.

Maybe I was imagining things, but I could have sworn that former UConn star Barbara Turner received louder cheers last night than at any other game I have been at. Perhaps the Sun faithful realize that it could be Turner's swan song? Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault, who handles all the player personnel decisions, wasn't about to spill the beans if he has already made his decision.

It is not a moment Thibault is looking forward to. Making matters worse for Thibault, a second player will need to be let go when Sandrine Gruda joins the team when they are in Indiana later this week.

Here are the options listed alphabetically:
Kiesha Brown: The guard was picked up in the preseason after she was waived by Washington and has made an impact both on the court and in the locker room. She gives the Sun another point guard which enables Thibault to rest both Lindsay Whalen and Erin Phillips and utilize Phillips more at the off guard. Brown is also emerging as a team leader in the short time she has been in Connecticut. I'd be surprised if she was let go.
Lauren Ervin: Showed some range on her jumper last night but with Chante Black possibly back for the Thursday game at Indiana and Gruda also coming in, Ervin like a likely choice to be cut although she may be the second one waived just in case Gruda and Black aren't available.
Barbara Turner: Turner was acquired last year to give the Sun some instant offense off the bench. However, Turner has become a shooter who either is reluctant to shoot or can't find the range. That's a tough combination. Turner is shooting 20.9 percent from the field and is 4 for 25 from 3-pointer range (16 percent). Ouch. Thibault loves her toughness. Turner was the first sub he summoned last night when Kerri Gardin was struggling to guard Chamique Holdsclaw and Turner's physical play seemed to bother Holdsclaw.
Tan White: Another veteran picks up off the waiver wire, White is a gifted offensive player who trails only Asjha Jones in shots per 40 minutes which is just fine by Thibault. She understands her role and has added a spark off the bench since she joined the Sun.
Tamika Whitmore: The longest of the long shots to be let go. Whitmore has struggled at times offensively this season but she is fourth on the team in minutes played. She just offers too much in the leadership department and getting caught short with post players is never a good thing so expect her to stick around.

We should know in a few hours but I believe Turner will be the first cut and Ervin will be the second to go. Then again, I thought second-round pick Lyndra Littles was going to make the team out of training camp.

One last thought - Latvia certainly takes its basketball seriously. There was a member of the media from Latvia at Mohegan Sun Arena awaiting Jekabsone-Zogota's arrival. She was supposed to be touching down in New York around the time the Sun's game was wrapping up. With the Sun expected to take the floor at about 3, look for the move to be announced before that since the team will need to stay at the 11-player limit.

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

HoopGurlz just announced that Michala Johnson has committed to UConn

2:27 PM 

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