2/3 of the season awards/predictions

[WBBTakeover]

Morrow has regressed horribly tbh. LSU has killed her skills. They are putting a 6’1 player at the 5

I agree with you, but she signed up for this.

 

[packwrap]

Morrow has regressed horribly tbh. LSU has killed her skills. They are putting a 6’1 player at the 5

Depends how you look at it. In year 2 at Depaul, Coach Bruno completely changed her role from forward to guard, even shooting a ton of threes.(53/209 25%) Thinking was 'how to develop her best for WNBA future'.

At LSU, Mulkey has her back down low where she is most comfortable. Usually at power forward, only at center on their small ball lineup. (In their regular lineup, Smith/Wolfenbarger are the posts)She now rarely shoots from 3, but her mid range jumper is much better, and she continues working on guard skills.

She will end up ncaa#1 in rebounding at 14 per game, career ncaa #2 alltime in double/doubles w/ 100+, 1st team All-American, and a top 10 WNBA pick. Perhaps even SEC Player of the Year?

Between Angel, Flaujae and LSU, she gets tons of exposure! She now has team experience of an elite 8 vs Iowa/Clark, and whatever '25 brings.

If that's regression, it's regression she is thrilled about.

 

[bballnut90]

Morrow has regressed horribly tbh. LSU has killed her skills. They are putting a 6’1 player at the 5

She hasn’t developed into a wing but she’s having a standout season and should be a top 5-10 draft pick. Players with her rebounding ability and motor are far and few between. People had the same criticisms of Reese last year and we saw how well she played as a rookie.

 

[DefenseBB]

Blakes is probably the NFOY. Booker is likely SEC POY but stranger things have happened.

NPOY is probably Hidalgo but Watkins is back in the hunt. Betts likely isn't far behind.

go see my post on the main page. Blakes IS NOT the NFOY. Great that she's scored 55 points against Auburn and 53 points against Florida but Vanderbilt has a NET of 23 vs. Connecticut's #1, has a 6-6 conference record for 6th and really does not have a signature win nor are they on National TV. I just don't see this happening. She's had a great year, no doubt but stop with the NFOY....

 

[DefenseBB]

Similar to my NFOY, I stated I also track the POY stats and below is the top 10 list with Efficiency score and Her Hoop Stat Win Shares.

I know the narrative has Hidalgo and Watkins as clear front runners but I would say Betts and Paige are still very much in contention. Betts due to UCLA and their high profile game at home coming up vs. Watkins and SoCal and Paige who has nice WS score.

The first team AA list should be Hidalgo, Watkins, Bueckers, Betts and Morrow. Booker is having an ok season stat-wise but with Texas so highly ranked, she has to be named in the top 10 over some other deserving names.

My P4+BE Conference POY and FOY are:
ACC Hannah Hidalgo ND and Toby Fournier Duke
Big 12 Sedona Prince TCU and Delaney Gibb BYU
Big 10 Juju Watkins SoCal and Olivia Olson Mich
Big East Paige Bueckers UConn and Sarah Strong UConn
SEC Aneesah Morrow LSU and Mikayla Blakes Vanderbilt

 

[cancontent]

Looking at the list for the Coach of the Year award. Most make sense but McGuff of Ohio State is perplexing. Considering how some are looking at their season with skepticism, I would love to have been a fly on the wall when his name came up in conversation.

 

[DefenseBB]

Looking at the list for the Coach of the Year award. Most make sense but McGuff of Ohio State is perplexing. Considering how some are looking at their season with skepticism, I would love to have been a fly on the wall when his name came up in conversation.

Ok, I’ll bite, why is it perplexing to you? He’s had a really good year at 22-3 while much wasn’t expected. He’s got the Buckeyes solidly in 3rd and playing above their skill level. I am not a fan of him but I do give credit where credit is due and I am fine with him being on the list, even more so than Nell (she’s having a nice year but her wins are built upon a weak OOC and a poor conference). Congrats to that success but on a list for NCOY? Um no….

 

[bballnut90]

Similar to my NFOY, I stated I also track the POY stats and below is the top 10 list with Efficiency score and Her Hoop Stat Win Shares.

I know the narrative has Hidalgo and Watkins as clear front runners but I would say Betts and Paige are still very much in contention. Betts due to UCLA and their high profile game at home coming up vs. Watkins and SoCal and Paige who has nice WS score.

The first team AA list should be Hidalgo, Watkins, Bueckers, Betts and Morrow. Booker is having an ok season stat-wise but with Texas so highly ranked, she has to be named in the top 10 over some other deserving names.

My P4+BE Conference POY and FOY are:
ACC Hannah Hidalgo ND and Toby Fournier Duke
Big 12 Sedona Prince TCU and Delaney Gibb BYU
Big 10 Juju Watkins SoCal and Olivia Olson Mich
Big East Paige Bueckers UConn and Sarah Strong UConn
SEC Aneesah Morrow LSU and Mikayla Blakes Vanderbilt

View attachment 107132

Paige is probably a 2nd Team All American right now, not a NPOY candidate.

Blakes has a game winner to upset Tennessee (she scored 23 that game) and two 50 points games which has never been done, and she accomplished it as a freshman. She also scored 30 over the last 6 min and OT to lead her team back from a 15 point deficit. Not sure what else you need for a signature win.

The “vibe” I’m getting now from reading here and Reddit is that Blakes is likely the front runner after the 55 point game but Strong is certainly in the mix.

 

[cancontent]

Ok, I’ll bite, why is it perplexing to you? He’s had a really good year at 22-3 while much wasn’t expected. He’s got the Buckeyes solidly in 3rd and playing above their skill level. I am not a fan of him but I do give credit where credit is due and I am fine with him being on the list, even more so than Nell (she’s having a nice year but her wins are built upon a weak OOC and a poor conference). Congrats to that success but on a list for NCOY? Um no….

From what I've watched this season, their performance is underwhelming. They were expected to be third in conference, per the pre-season Big Ten rankings so I'm not sure what gave you the impression much wasn't expected. Similar to your note about GT, Ohio State's OOC was really weak compared to previous years. And considering their roster with the Cambridge sisters, Chance Gray, Madison Greene and Cotie MacMahon, the definition of low skillset needs to be clarified.

They didn't face a ranked team until December when they faced Illinois in conference play. They're only ranked competition has been during conference play while teams like Michigan State, Michigan and Minnesota have faced tougher all throughout the season. They've had their challenges in the BIG10 squeaking out some wins against teams they should be beating handily (e.g. Iowa, Oregon). Statistically, their numbers aren't great as someone posted in a different thread and they're only now facing their toughest competition with their recent West Coast trip and games with Indiana, Michigan State and Maryland coming.

 

[bballnut90]

From what I've watched this season, their performance is underwhelming. They were expected to be third in conference, per the pre-season Big Ten rankings so I'm not sure what gave you the impression much wasn't expected. Similar to your note about GT, Ohio State's OOC was really weak compared to previous years. And considering their roster with the Cambridge sisters, Chance Gray, Madison Greene and Cotie MacMahon, the definition of low skillset needs to be clarified.

They didn't face a ranked team until December when they faced Illinois in conference play. They're only ranked competition has been during conference play while teams like Michigan State, Michigan and Minnesota have faced tougher all throughout the season. They've had their challenges in the BIG10 squeaking out some wins against teams they should be beating handily (e.g. Iowa, Oregon). Statistically, their numbers aren't great as someone posted in a different thread and they're only now facing their toughest competition with their recent West Coast trip and games with Indiana, Michigan State and Maryland coming.

Agreed. They remind me a lot of Kentucky. Both:
-have a lot of fluffy wins in non-con
-got man-handled by the big dogs in their respective conferences
-have an egregiously bad loss on their record (Penn State and Texas A&M)
-have won the rest of the games they should be winning, but neither has given indication that they're capable of competing with the better teams in the country.

 

[DefenseBB]

@cancontent I am not McGuff's publicist nor am I a fan of the guy but many of these coaches play pathetic OOC (Fortner's schedule is ranked 144 and she's a 1-4 against Quad1 teams). McGuff had to rebuild albeit with Cotie McMahon and has performed as well or better than expected. I am scratching my head at many names on the list is my point (McGuff's included) which I found it odd that you singled him out but no one else. The list generated discussions and usually the voting committee makes a fair and understandable choice at the end of the year. Overall, I am convinced Brooks, Fortner, Cambell, McGuff, Ralph, Moore and Mulkey will not be real contenders. The leaders of the COY have to be Close, Schaeffer, Ivey and Gottlieb based on their teams' performances. Geno and Dawn are behind but are worthy to me listed.

@bballnut90 raises a good point about Kentucky as I too am not overwhelmed by his efforts based on their poor OOC and easy early SEC schedule. These last 3 games on their schedule are the lions den of teams. However, Kenny did take over a very dysfunctional team and brought with him 2 key pieces in Strack and Amoore. Kudos for righting this sinking ship but as a NCOY award, sorry-No.

 

[cancontent]

@cancontent I am not McGuff's publicist nor am I a fan of the guy but many of these coaches play pathetic OOC (Fortner's schedule is ranked 144 and she's a 1-4 against Quad1 teams). McGuff had to rebuild albeit with Cotie McMahon and has performed as well or better than expected. I am scratching my head at many names on the list is my point (McGuff's included) which I found it odd that you singled him out but no one else. The list generated discussions and usually the voting committee makes a fair and understandable choice at the end of the year. Overall, I am convinced Brooks, Fortner, Cambell, McGuff, Ralph, Moore and Mulkey will not be real contenders. The leaders of the COY have to be Close, Schaeffer, Ivey and Gottlieb based on their teams' performances. Geno and Dawn are behind but are worthy to me listed.

@bballnut90 raises a good point about Kentucky as I too am not overwhelmed by his efforts based on their poor OOC and easy early SEC schedule. These last 3 games on their schedule are the lions den of teams. However, Kenny did take over a very dysfunctional team and brought with him 2 key pieces in Strack and Amoore. Kudos for righting this sinking ship but as a NCOY award, sorry-No.

1). I'm entitled to single McGuff out if something doesn't make sense. The team was expected to be in the top 3 of the conference but they're not playing like such a team. Playing as well or better than expected doesn't jive when I watch how they're struggling against teams like I noted, and add Indiana to the list now. The same skepticism you have of GT and Kentucky's OOC play should also apply to Ohio State. As for a rebuild, Michigan is a better example.

2). The list of non-contenders you have includes coaches of teams who haven't been ranked consistently or competitive in a long time. Will they win? No, but the improvements these programs have made are significant. Coaches like Brooks, Fortner, Ralph and Campbell have turned their programs around. Where have Kentucky, Vanderbilt, TCU and GT been the last few years? Ohio State seems to be getting the benefit of the doubt more than they should in my opinion.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Overall, I am convinced Brooks, Fortner, Cambell, McGuff, Ralph, Moore and Mulkey will not be real contenders. The leaders of the COY have to be Close, Schaeffer, Ivey and Gottlieb based on their teams' performances. Geno and Dawn are behind but are worthy to me listed.

I agree with this.