2017/2018 Athlon Sports Magazine Pre-Season Predictions

[donalddoowop]

Ionescu got what she wanted. She wanted to go to a school that was not an established power and try to help raise it to a national power. She succeeded her first season. I know one good year does not make a team a national power but with the other talented players on Oregon, I think they will be a power for the next few years. I don't think she is sorry for the decision she made.

 

[GiladKatzDeli]

Just win the championship, let the other schools worry about 1st team AA's. I'll take Nurse, Z, Collier, KLS, and Gabby against any combination of 5 other collegiate players in the country.

 

[Golden Husky]

Well that's Nurse, and I think a case can be made for her.

From now on, I think we should refer to Nurse as +.

 

[easttexastrash]

Kalani Brown? She is overrated...just big with no skills to speak of.

 

[easttexastrash]

Doesn't a certain Canadian Olympian, at the very least, deserve to be part of the discussion? Would she part of the top ten if she played for somebody else?

While I think she is a very solid player, I don't think she set herself apart last season. Will she be a great pro? Was Allisah Gray an AA last season?

 

[nwhoopfan]

I think Nurse has shown at times she can be a dominant player, but she's been surrounded by ridiculous talent her entire career and has mostly been in a complimentary role. I'm sure she could've been more of a scorer under different circumstances, but it really hasn't been necessary during her 3 years so far. It's kind of hard to see her scoring increasing significantly during her Sr. year, based on all the players coming back plus the influx of talent and new players.

I haven't seen her play for the Canadian national team, but it sounds like she's a totally different player in that setting.

 

[Golden Husky]

I think Nurse has shown at times she can be a dominant player, but she's been surrounded by ridiculous talent her entire career and has mostly been in a complimentary role. I'm sure she could've been more of a scorer under different circumstances, but it really hasn't been necessary during her 3 years so far. It's kind of hard to see her scoring increasing significantly during her Sr. year, based on all the players coming back plus the influx of talent and new players.

I haven't seen her play for the Canadian national team, but it sounds like she's a totally different player in that setting.

+

 

[uconnfan68]

4 first team All Americans all from the same team? That's getting pretty greedy. I would be SHOCKED if that actually happened.

Since they usually use statistics to judge, I’m surprised they put as many as 3 Huskies on the team. When they just choose the best players, I’m surprised at only 3.

 

[Rema64]

Just my thoughts on this......Not sure about Gabby or Naphessa as far as individual awards are concerned ...the may play as well or better then a year ago.......it's just that their numbers may not be quite as gaudy as they were last season as they will hopefully be playing far fewer minutes with such an infusion of talent...I find it hard to believe that those in charge would reward a player with 15 and 10 first team All-American status even if they were deserving of the honor...Gabby will be effected the most followed by Napheesa while KLS is far more likely to meet or better her stats from last year

I disagree, Napheesa and Gabby were more consistent in their scoring and defense . Napheesa led the team in points and Gabby was awesome all around in points and rebounds.

 

[Charliebball]

I disagree, Napheesa and Gabby were more consistent in their scoring and defense . Napheesa led the team in points and Gabby was awesome all around in points and rebounds.

yes they all improved markedly, my point was simply that this coming season they will hopefully not have to carry as much of the load in any particular category as the bench is much improved...............if they are playing any where near the same minutes as last year then there's a problem........

 

[Rema64]

yes they all improved markedly, my point was simply that this coming season they will hopefully not have to carry as much of the load in any particular category as the bench is much improved.....if they are playing any where near the same minutes as last year then there's a problem...

True, their minutes will decrease but I believe UConn will crush all comers like they did in prior years and the starters will be warming the bench by the 3rd quarter. The Miss St. loss will be on their minds and motivate that kind of performance this entire season.

 

[DefenseBB]

While I think she is a very solid player, I don't think she set herself apart last season. Will she be a great pro? Was Allisah Gray an AA last season?

I can't believe I have to sell YOU on Kalani but here goes: She has done a remarkable job since her freshman year on her conditioning and is continuing to work on stupid fouls. Her marked Improvement made Beatrice transfer and the fact that Baylor plays a pathetic OOC with only Texas on the docket says Ms. Brown will do very well. Remember Joyner is ineligible 1st semester (hopefully not 2nd as well!) so BU vs. Texas boards will be dominated by Baylor. I like what Ashton is doing at Texas but her offensive coaching is average at best (starting to sound familiar eh?) so while she has a boatload of HS AA's and more than tOSU (shouldn't be in top 10 as he can't coach a lick of defense) I see BU winning and as such Mulkey will be at her very loudest extolling Kalani's virtues.

 

[easttexastrash]

I can't believe I have to sell YOU on Kalani but here goes: She has done a remarkable job since her freshman year on her conditioning and is continuing to work on stupid fouls. Her marked Improvement made Beatrice transfer and the fact that Baylor plays a pathetic OOC with only Texas on the docket says Ms. Brown will do very well. Remember Joyner is ineligible 1st semester (hopefully not 2nd as well!) so BU vs. Texas boards will be dominated by Baylor. I like what Ashton is doing at Texas but her offensive coaching is average at best (starting to sound familiar eh?) so while she has a boatload of HS AA's and more than tOSU (shouldn't be in top 10 as he can't coach a lick of defense) I see BU winning and as such Mulkey will be at her very loudest extolling Kalani's virtues.

I was talking about Nurse, not Brown. I am already sold on Brown. I think she is very possibly next season's POY.

 

[donalddoowop]

I was talking about Nurse, not Brown. I am already sold on Brown. I think she is very possibly next season's POY.

In the Big 12. Certainly not the nation. I believe she will be an AA but, not the the national POY. Of course, this is the opinion of a Uconn fan.

 

[DefenseBB]

I was talking about Nurse, not Brown. I am already sold on Brown. I think she is very possibly next season's POY.

Whew, I was really worried for a second. We all like Nurse, but under no circumstance is she an All-American. Is she a good player-ABSOLUTELY, but she does not force any team to say, "hey we have to contain Kia if we want to beat UConn". I do not mean to disparage any of her contributions as she is more than capable on any given night to fill the stats and she is a steady presence (most of the time). That, however is not the definition of an All-American. She is, however, a 1st Team All-Canadian!