AAs ?

[GamecockFam]

If the awards were given out today, I woul concede Strong as national FOY and Blake’s as SEC FOY.

However. Joyce Edwards will push them both by years end. Over the last five straight games against ranked opponents, Joyce was the leadingscorer in all five games. To repeat; both of them are worthy of awards, but it COULD change, Joyce will face both of them in the next month,

Another name to throw out there for SEC FOY is Sira Thienou at Ole Miss. She gets almost no media love but she could creep into the conversation if she continues getting better. She isn't necessarily a high scorer (though she did have a 29 point game against Florida) but it's all the other metrics that make her stand out.

Let's face it, this is another superb freshman class!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

While Strong is great and having an amazing season, I don't see her as a lock even for FOY. I think Mikayla Blakes at Vandy is also in the conversation. Shea has helped mold her into a great player and her play is just strengthening as the year progresses. That being said, I don't think anybody would be upset if Strong wins, but I don't think she is the only one in the conversation or is a run away with it this year either.

Strong leads the nation in Win Shares and Box Plus Minus, is 2nd in Offensive and Defensive Rating, and 2nd in Player Efficiency Rating by 0.1 point. Also 7th in Effective FG Percentage and 12th in True Shooting Percentage.

 

[saywho]

Strong leads the nation in Win Shares and Box Plus Minus, is 2nd in Offensive and Defensive Rating, and 2nd in Player Efficiency Rating by 0.1 point. Also 7th in Effective FG Percentage and 12th in True Shooting Percentage.

I’m aware of the stats of pretty much all D-1 women players on top 25 teams, and most top recruits. I tend to be a stat nerd that struggles with sleep so I peruse them rather nightly. But thank you for sharing with the forum!

Like I said, Sarah is a phenomenal player and I doubt anybody would question or be upset if she won FOY (and if she does win, she deserves it!), but I don’t think she’s running away with it or that it’s just some foregone conclusion she is going to win it. There are others in the conversation whether you personally are in agreement with it or not.

I could delve quite deeply into (and thoroughly support) why being surrounded by a large number of other quality players (including two other #1 recruits that demand defensive attention from other teams) and a coach who ensures the team as a whole plays defense cohesively is going to naturally inflate some of the specific statistics you mention. I’m not saying that to take away from how great she is … she is great! But at the end of the day, I’m not here to convince anybody that one player is better or more deserving than somebody else — because we don’t get a vote in who wins any awards at the end of the season. Also, I think everybody here knows this isn’t the place where opinions are going to be changed when it involves anything to do with UConn or its players (which is actually a complement not a knock toward UConn faithful.) So, it’d all be a moot point and a waste of energy on my part trying to defend all the attacks that would be sure to come

 

[packwrap]

I’m aware of the stats of pretty much all D-1 women players on top 25 teams, and most top recruits. I tend to be a stat nerd that struggles with sleep so I peruse them rather nightly.

I think you are right that Sarah is not yet a lock. The media likes to focus on scoring, and freshman who put a team on their back. Last year it was JuJu's 50 at Stanford and rise of USC that moved her to pole position.

Sarah does have one advantage though in addition to advanced metrics. Her highlight reel! I've never seen anything like it, she quietly makes something happen at what appears to be all 5 positions, and from every square foot of the court!

A nice performance v TN and SC will also help.

If voters view the evidence, she will be the leader.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

I could delve quite deeply into (and thoroughly support) why being surrounded by a large number of other quality players (including two other #1 recruits that demand defensive attention from other teams) and a coach who ensures the team as a whole plays defense cohesively is going to naturally inflate some of the specific statistics you mention.

You're not saying Shea Ralph, of all people, doesn't have her team play defense as a whole.

UConn's pretty much been Strong and Bueckers and pray for rain this year.

Strong's current PER, WS per 40, Offensive Rating, and Box Plus/Minus would all be better than any Breanna Stewart posted in her first three seasons.

Needless to say, Stewart had better players surrounding her than Strong does.

 

[Rowdy831]

I really think outside of reputation Paige would have no shot at 1st team this year. First of all her stats don't warrant it, she plays in the weakest league in the country and she only plays three quarters of the game. Should she be based on ability? Absolutely but Geno hasn't really made that a priority for Paige this year.

Morrow and Betts would have to be on the list along with Juju, Hannah, and Latson. But in this world of name recognition Paige is a shoe in for AA and will be the number 1 pick. She just does a lot of things for the team that don't show up in the box score and if the league were better I think her numbers would be too.

 

[Just.A.Fan]

Gustafson averaged 28 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks on 70% FG, she deserved NPOY. She also took an unheralded Iowa team to an Elite 8 finish and Big Ten Championship. Collier was and is a better overall player but Meg deserved it.

How she fell to #6 in the draft still is puzzling. KLS had an up and down senior year where holes in her game were exposed, yet she still was picked ahead of Arike/Collier, both of whom have become franchise players and bonafide stars.

Absolutely correct. Gustafson's scoring and rebounding set her clearly on top of the pack and she deserved the NPOY award. However, the WNBA didn't think much of her, as she was drafted #17 and has been a role player throughout her career. KLS, despite having an up & down senior year due to injuries, was still considered a top pick (#4) because of her outside shooting abilities. Her pro career is a sad one. Had it not been for those injuries, she would have been ahead of Collier on UConn's all-time scoring board. Pheesa was considered a "very good" player coming out of UConn. But few, if any, expected her to turn into the absolute beast she has become. In my opinion, she is currently the best all around player WNBA.

 

[GoUconn7961]

No matter what the committee decides 90% of the posters on this thread will be angry. LOL