1--- I don't agree that ND's defense wasn't great. No way a one-dimensional team could have beaten UCONN 3 times that year without having a great defense. And if you are going to count the Maryland game giving Loyd props you also have to give props to ND's frontline. You can't give one props for the MD game and then all of a sudden discount what Stewie did. I don't count much what Stewie did vs ND 2nd time though.
2-- I'm only looking at the UConn games because those are the games which she will compete against at the professional level in a relative manner.
3-- Ogwumike 15 pts and 10 rebounds and 4 assists shooting 5-12 from the floor - 4-6 from the line - not great I agree. But decent. Yet we know who was chosen for the USA team - Ogwumike vs Stewie. Anyhw Ogwumkie's pro stats simailr to the UCONN NCAA game. Keep in mind I'm not saying Ogwumike or Loyd stinks. I've said Loyd would be the 2nd pick as of now. That ain't too shabby. Loyd may very well get NPOY this year. Alana Beard also beat out DT for NPOY with more gaudy stats. Are you trying to say if they meet two more times in NCAA's (a strong possibility) that a great player like Loyd it is acceptable that not ONCE she has a productive game?
4--- I think you are getting way too defensive. I never said Loyd stinks. I never said Ogwumiek stinks. I was clear "as of this moment" I want to see loyd be productive in a money game vs UCONN just like her teammate McBride was. There are two more years left and she certainly can be productive. All I'm saying is I want to see it. I'm probably misreading you too- but for example what you are coming at me with is Maryland as an example? SO Loyd plays well vs Md (and so did ND's frontline) and she gets an "atta boy." Stewie then plays the same team that wiped off Maryland and yet you seem to discount Stewie's performance. I know I'm probably misreading you in some manner. You're an excellent poster. I emphasize excellent. But the fact you bring up Md in this circumstance and Mich State in another - I've discounted these teams when evaluating a 1st pick. If you disagree why come at me 2nd time in your reply? And if you are going to count MD - I have no idea why you diminished Stewie's performance vs ND.
5-- I'm hung up on that because that is the type of talent she is going to face when she goes pro in terms of size and athlecismsm all around her. A player like Ogwumike in NCAA's which you identified to me- she had about the same freshman year in WNBA that she had last year in the NCAA's vs UCONN. And Kayla McBride she took a lot of 3's in WNBA - played great in playoffs - I'l bet if you looked at her efg% comparing UCONN game vs her WNBA caeer they were somewhat compatible. In addition you say UCONN was able to smother McBride - okay in some manner yes- in another - I thought McBride was productive 8-18 fromt the floor (.444) - UCONN was just 34-73 from the floor at .465. I call McBride's game productive. McBride had a productive WNBA season. If it was "great" then compare that to her game vs UCOON in finals. How much did they differ?
1. Notre Dame was far from a one dimensional team, nor were they a bad defensive team, but they were not a great defensive team in 2014. In 2013 they were a stronger defensive team with Diggins in the backcourt, but again, not a great defensive team. They beat UCONN three times because UCONN choked down the stretch, and McBride/Diggins made huge plays in tight moments.
2. So by this logic, you wouldn't factor in her performances against Baylor in 2013 and 2014? Against a Griner led Baylor team she had 24 as a freshman, and dropped 30 against Baylor in 2014. She just scored 34 points against one of the better defensive teams in the nation in Tennessee. She scored 31 against UCONN this year. You can't isolate two games where she played poorly and say those are the only ones that should be looked at because they were post season games against a high level defense, but ignore all other post season performances or regular season performances against the same opponent.
3. Ogwumike finished with a decent stat line compared to most, but she averaged 26 points, 12 rebounds and shot 60% from the floor coming in. And here are the stats from the other 4 games she put up against UCONN:
2010-6 points, 5 rebounds, 2-7 FG, fouled out in 19 minutes
2011-7 points, 12 rebounds, 3-12 FG, 4 fouls, 5 turnovers
2012-18 points, 13 rebounds, 6-22 FG, 3 turnovers
2013-16 points, 13 rebounds, 6-16 FG, 4 turnovers.
The Pac-12s all time leading scorer never cracked 20 against UCONN in 5 chances, and shot 32% from the field against UCONN after shooting high 50s-60s over her career. In the pros, Ogwumike averaged 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and shot nearly 54% from the floor as a rookie.
4. I never said or insinuated that you think Ogwumike/Loyd stink. And thank you for the kind words. I just think you are too preoccupied on those two games. I don't see how you wouldn't consider the 2013 regional against Duke a 'money game', or 2014 against Baylor. Notre Dame has to win those games or their season is over, just like both Final Four games against Connecticut. If I'm a GM, I know that playing against UCONN is going to be brutal and you probably wont have numbers that are reflective of how you'll do as a professional. Diggins for all of her big moments in UCONN games had several games where she shot the ball horribly and committed 5+ turnovers. Griner was completely outplayed as a freshman against UCONN in her 'money game' against UCONN. If I'm a WNBA GM, I'd recognize that Loyd has struggled in the Final Four against UCONN but has lit it up outside of 2 poor showings. As a junior she is playing better than anyone in the nation while carrying a huge load for Notre Dame. I'd be more impressed with her consistently great performances this year--31 points against UCONN this year, her 34 points against Tennessee, 40+ against DePaul, 27 against Maryland, etc. than I would be disheartened or worried that she wont perform well in big games because she struggled against UCONN as a freshman and sophomore.
