Natalie Butler

[Larry 7237]

I have been in Europe for the past 2 weeks. Has anybody heard anything about Butler?

 

[JordyG]

Not a peep. But I sure hope she's working on her offensive and defensive footwork, upper body strength, and her outside shot. And here's hoping she finishes most of her layups this year.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Here's hoping her thumb is 100% and she can mentally put that behind her.

 

[Charliebball]

still 6'5" I hope..............................

 

[Jim]

still 6'5" I hope.....

1.132 Hartley Units.

 

[Sonny44]

I have been in Europe for the past 2 weeks. Has anybody heard anything about Butler?

With all the injuries we have I don't want to hear about anybody.

 

[bags27]

I've been in Europe the past two weeks, too. Why didn't I see you?

 

[chrissaran]

Natalie needs to be a major factor this year. She needs to be a double/double every game. Hopefully she can channel "Big Mama Stef".

 

[CocoHusky]

While you were gone we took a poll and the the poll said Geno should start Natalie.

 

[caramel]

I summoned a World of Warcraft mage and she is casting her Big Mama Stef spell on Natalie as you read this.

 

[ctkaiser]

Natalie needs to be a major factor this year. She needs to be a double/double every game. Hopefully she can channel "Big Mama Stef".

I would be happy with 8 pts 8 rebs. There may be teams where there's no defensive match up for her and they go small. I think Gus has a good point. 100% healthy thumb and mentally strong. I'll add that she can't hesitate on that short jump shot.

 

[Kaizen]

She might have too much pressure in 2015-2016. I think she will be fine this year.
Facing #1, 2, 3 in the country as her roommates is not easy.

 

[GiladKatzDeli]

I'd really like to see her come back with a kind of "attack mode" attitude. I don't think it comes naturally to her and the great Tina Charles also had to develop it over time. Especially as a big, you need to play the game looking to impose your will on your opponent. That doesn't necessarily mean play physical, but just be more aggressive.

 

[pacific 44]

It never gets mentioned,but take a look at the practice competition that Natalie has had for a couple of years now.She has had Stokes,Stewart, and Tuck to bang or chase around the court.If we add in the transfers this coming year she will have gone up against some of the best competition that college basketball could ever have to offer.Now lets add in the practice guys and if she is healthy i expect that her learning curve should be nearly completed.She needs major minutes in real games this year and i have every confidence that Natalie will be a bellweather on both ends of the court.Only at UCONN and a very few other schools would this skills transition be able to take place.If any of the bigs from the class of 2018 want the very best chance to succeed, you have three guesses as to where to attend school and the first two don't count.

 

[baggerbob]

Right now the top 4 in the WNBA advanced stats, are Nneka, Tina, Stewie, and Maya, so Natalie practiced all year with one of the best. As long as she's healthy , she should do well.

 

[Buzzyboy]

I would be happy with 8 pts 8 rebs. There may be teams where there's no defensive match up for her and they go small. I think Gus has a good point. 100% healthy thumb and mentally strong. I'll add that she can't hesitate on that short jump shot.

In Stef's junior year, she averaged about 13.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game so for those expecting her to Mama Stef, she wouldn't have to average a double, double at all.

 

[easttexastrash]

I have been in Europe for the past 2 weeks. Has anybody heard anything about Butler?

She's tall. That's what I've heard.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Right now the top 4 in the WNBA advanced stats, are Nneka, Tina, Stewie, and Maya, so Natalie practiced all year with one of the best. As long as she's healthy , she should do well.

That's pretty much the MVP race as well.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

The thumb injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Natalie! She worked her butt off transfer year and preseason then hurt the thumb right before the season started taking away everything + confidence she had built up and could never get it back in season, so this off season is tremendously important to get back that "edge" she had pre-injury!
I have complete faith Natalie will shine This season and beyond!

 

[Mdoggie]

Nat becoming a beast this coming season and the "releasing of the Chong" I smell a title!

 

[donalddoowop]

The thumb injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Natalie! She worked her butt off transfer year and preseason then hurt the thumb right before the season started taking away everything + confidence she had built up and could never get it back in season, so this off season is tremendously important to get back that "edge" she had pre-injury!
I have complete faith Natalie will shine This season and beyond!

This, imo, says it all. That injury and the timing of it caused more problems than many seem to realize.

 

[BIGMAC]

No News=Good News

 

[Larry 7237]

Bags27, I was in France wearing my UCONN hat and t-shirt, where were you?

 

[Rixxx]

As I said before, Natalie just has to play big!

 

[malevocalist#]

Not a peep. But I sure hope she's working on her offensive and defensive footwork, upper body strength, and her outside shot. And here's hoping she finishes most of her layups this year.

Amen to that!