All Americans???

[cferraro04]

The game announcer tonight made a reference that Brianna Turner was the only All American on the court... TRUE...however, if the big three continue to play the way they did tonight each one of them has a chance to become an All American. Can all three make it? That is a tough order but, given that there are three All American Teams I can see them making it.

 

[bags27]

I think Doris at some point mentioned that Pheesa is playing at that level. But yes, all 3 will certainly end up with serious AA consideration.

 

[eebmg]

I think Doris at some point mentioned that Pheesa is playing at that level. But yes, all 3 will certainly end up with serious AA consideration.

First, the way Brianna Turner plays in big games (missing so many bunnies), I would remove her from AA consideration but I know that wont happen. She will always have a few of those sexy alley-oop plays that look great and people will not look too hard at her defensive deficiencies either since she will get a few blocks.
I think she plays pretty soft. Gabby and to a lesser extent Naphessa put her through the grinder Of our three, I actually think they are all deserving but I would bet Naphessa has the highest probability (far better than turner already). I think too many people will not get passed the idea that KLS is a three point specialist and the grit and athleticism of Gabby will work against her . People may view her accomplishments as simply effort and minimize her basketball skills. Of course, cant have 3 AA from the same team hurts as well

 

[bags27]

First, the way Brianna Turner plays in big games (missing so many bunnies), I would remove her from AA consideration but I know that wont happen. She will always have a few of those sexy alley-oop plays that look great and people will not look too hard at her defensive deficiencies either since she will get a few blocks.
I think she plays pretty soft.

I agree and wrote something similar on the game thread. She gets lost on defense sometimes too. She's just not tough, as you say.

 

[bballnut90]

I agree and wrote something similar on the game thread. She gets lost on defense sometimes too. She's just not tough, as you say.

I agree. She can step up but I thought she looked soft tonight. She also has a tendency to disappear for stretches. I still think she has more upside than A'ja Wilson, but Wilson definitely has her beat in the effort/desire to be a star category.

 

[housekeys]

My first team All-America: KLS, Pheesa, Gaby, Plum, Wilson

 

[bballnut90]

All Americans thus far....my quick list off the top of my head:
1st Team:
Collier-UCONN
Jones-Baylor
Ogunbowale-Notre Dame
Wilson-South Carolina
Mitchell-Ohio State

Others:
Samuelson-UCONN
Walker Kimbrough-Maryland
Plum-Washington
Epps-Kentucky


Collier is the early favorite for POY in my book. 19 points, 7 boards, 1.8 blocks, 1.8 steals, 67% FG, 50% 3pt, 78% FT while having standout performances against Notre Dame, Florida State, Texas and DePaul. Yep she'd get my vote at this juncture.

 

[EricLA]

I think with what UCONN has accomplished this year, all 3 should get serious consideration. I could see KLS and Pheesa ending the season with 18 and 19 PPG respectively, and Williams in the 15-16 PPG range. I would think Gabby would have a real shot next season

 

[Intpseeker]

Hmm? How many of those possible AA's above play team basketball?

For my money, if I were starting a team, I'd only take Pheese, KLS and Walker-Kimbrough, of those mentioned.

Now if you were playing street ball for $$, well, that's a different animal. We saw Ogunbowale try that tonight. Watch the replay. stand around on the line, waving for the ball.

Not on my team, thanks.

 

[bballnut90]

I think with what UCONN has accomplished this year, all 3 should get serious consideration. I could see KLS and Pheesa ending the season with 18 and 19 PPG respectively, and Williams in the 15-16 PPG range. I would think Gabby would have a real shot next season

If they hit those numbers, all 3 will get serious consideration. Williams is only at 11 ppg right now, so she has work to do if she gets to 15-16.

I think she'll improve a lot by next year, but she'll also be competing with Stevens, KLS, and Collier for honors. Even if deserved, I don't see UCONN nabbing 4 spots on the top 2 teams since that has never happened and Connecticut didn't get it in 2002, 2014 or 2015 when they had 4 standouts.

 

[UcMiami]

When I watch Turner play for a whole game, I want to put really strong coffee in her water bottle. She can look fabulous for a few minutes and then seems to run out of energy before getting another burst for another few minutes. The talent is there, but she strikes me as the type of NFL draft prospect that has the scouting not 'motor?'

 

[JordyG]

When I watch Turner play for a whole game, I want to put really strong coffee in her water bottle. She can look fabulous for a few minutes and then seems to run out of energy before getting another burst for another few minutes. The talent is there, but she strikes me as the type of NFL draft prospect that has the scouting not 'motor?'

And injured or not she's always seemed to play that way. I don't quite understand it. I can't believe it's a lack of conditioning, it just seems a bad habit or poor mindset. I mean, Geno and Muffet recruited her for a reason, right? At times I just want to jump on the court and give her a good shake.

 

[ballhawk]

If Cal has a good year Kristine Anigwe should be, at least, 3rd team AA.

 

[bballnut90]

And injured or not she's always seemed to play that way. I don't quite understand it. I can't believe it's a lack of conditioning, it just seems a bad habit or poor mindset. I mean, Geno and Muffet recruited her for a reason, right? At times I just want to jump on the court and give her a good shake.

In Turner's defense, I think a lot of it is just her demeanor. She had the same body language/expression when she scored 14 in the 2nd half against Connecticut. She just seems mild mannered.

The biggest areas where she struggles are strength and hands. She is long, blocks well and is a pogo stick when she jumps for the ball, but she is consistently outmuscled for rebounds and she has awful hands for a post player. If she added 15 pounds of muscle to her frame and worked on catching entry passes, different story. Also, she is more effective when she has some room to create. When she is super deep with a man in front of her, she doesn't finish well. Give her the ball 5-10 feet away from the rim and she can create for herself. She's much more effective there than buried in the post taking contested layups. She's much more of a PF in that sense rather than a traditional bruising center like a Coates or Jones. In the W, I think she could develop into a really really good power forward with her length and athleticism. She also has good perimeter skills for a post player that can be utilized.

 

[cbraarj]

2002 Uconn starting 5 Sue Bird 1st team, Swin Cash and Diana Taurasi 2nd team, Aisha Jones 3rd team and Tamika Williams Honorable Mention!

 

[Icebear]

)I think too many people will not get passed the idea that KLS is a three point specialist and the grit and athleticism of Gabby will work against her . People may view her accomplishments as simply effort and minimize her basketball skills. Of course, cant have 3 AA from the same team hurts as well

Katie Lou has already shown tremendous diversity in her play this year. She is far from being a three point specialist anymore. She scored 18 against ND with only one 3.

It cannot happen but if Gabby plays like against ND you won't be able to keep her off the AA teams.

The voters will have tough decisions if they all keep playing like Weds. Night.

 

[Geew1992]

I have never been a fan of Turner's. I don't see much at all. She basically is a one trick pony. I would think by her Junior year, she would have some kind of post move and a jump shot to at least the free throw line. And I have said before, she doesn't show up in big games.

 

[meyers7]

Of course, cant have 3 AA from the same team hurts as well

Don't tell Stewart, Jefferson and Tuck (circa 2016). Or Cathings, Holdsclaw, Randall (circa 1999). Or Stewart, Jefferson, KML (circa 2015). Or Bird, Cash, Taurasi (circa 2002)

 

[cayenne]

And injured or not she's always seemed to play that way. I don't quite understand it. I can't believe it's a lack of conditioning, it just seems a bad habit or poor mindset. I mean, Geno and Muffet recruited her for a reason, right? At times I just want to jump on the court and give her a good shakeany better.

Turner was a good player coming out of high school and is still a good player, but she hasn't gotten better. That is no development. I wish Geno would have gotten her because Muffet just isn't as good as some people think.

 

[UcMiami]

In Turner's defense, I think a lot of it is just her demeanor. She had the same body language/expression when she scored 14 in the 2nd half against Connecticut. She just seems mild mannered.

The biggest areas where she struggles are strength and hands. She is long, blocks well and is a pogo stick when she jumps for the ball, but she is consistently outmuscled for rebounds and she has awful hands for a post player. If she added 15 pounds of muscle to her frame and worked on catching entry passes, different story. Also, she is more effective when she has some room to create. When she is super deep with a man in front of her, she doesn't finish well. Give her the ball 5-10 feet away from the rim and she can create for herself. She's much more effective there than buried in the post taking contested layups. She's much more of a PF in that sense rather than a traditional bruising center like a Coates or Jones. In the W, I think she could develop into a really really good power forward with her length and athleticism. She also has good perimeter skills for a post player that can be utilized.

Nice - but specific to that 14 point outburst against Uconn - not sure if you are referring to the current game or one against Stewart and Co that I remember - but in that historic game it wasn't just demeanor - she literally wasn't playing with any intensity in the first half, just nothing. Muffet lit a fire and her second half was completely different. I agree she is not demonstrative even when she is playing intensely - just that she does tend to drift away for stretches of game time.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Don't tell Stewart, Jefferson and Tuck (circa 2016). Or Cathings, Holdsclaw, Randall (circa 1999). Or Stewart, Jefferson, KML (circa 2015). Or Bird, Cash, Taurasi (circa 2002)

Or Montgomery, Moore, and Charles (circa 2009). I think all three were WBCA AA, weren't they? Could be wrong. Too lazy to look up.

 

[cbraarj]

Brianna Turner is overrated period. She cant shoot that well pass 5 ft., Doesnt hardly have any post moves, has no handle and plays hard half the time it seems. She is athletic runs the floor well and does off. rebound but AA. No Way, she did these in HS and became a Mcds AA but this is not HS. Her reputation followed her and that is why she is considered AA. Lang from Texas is better than her and she isnt AA worthy.

 

[Kibitzer]

In Turner's defense, I think a lot of it is just her demeanor. She had the same body language/expression when she scored 14 in the 2nd half against Connecticut. She just seems mild mannered.

Brianna Turner has size and she has excellent skills. But unlike Skylar and Kayla at ND before her, she is just not a Badass.

 

[Go/huskies]

Williams is leading the team in Rebounds, steals, and assist it might be hard to keep her off the 1st team.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Or Montgomery, Moore, and Charles (circa 2009). I think all three were WBCA AA, weren't they? Could be wrong. Too lazy to look up.

Yes, they were all All-Americans in 2009. Maya was the best player in the country, and Renee was top 5, I believe. Tina made the 10-player AA teams and then went into beast mode in the NCAA tourney. She's been in beast mode ever since.

I think this was in another thread, but I believe these were the years when we had 3 AAs on a 10-player team (please correct if wrong):

2002 Sue (NPOY), Swin, Diana

2009 Maya (NPOY), Renee, Tina

2014 Stewie (NPOY), Bria, Stef

2015 Stewie (NPOY), Moriah, Kaleena

2016 Stewie (NPOY), Moriah, Morgan