Big East POW, again a non-UConn player

[HuskyNan]

Deservedly so, imo. Villanova beat three teams this past week, one of them was #25 West Virginia. Good for them

#BIGEASTwbb Weekly Honors (12.8.25): Villanova and Creighton Split Weekly Awards

NEW YORK – Villanova’s Brynn McCurry had at least 20 points in all three wins to be named the BIG EAST Player of the Week. Creighton freshman guard Ava Zediker scored a career-high 26 points in the 71-60 win versus Tulsa to earn freshman of the week.

www.bigeast.com

 

[Centerstream]

Sarah was named to the BE weekly honor roll though.

 

[Bills Fan]

As I have posted a few times, our schedule can very possibly cost Sarah and Azzi any real shot at the NPOY. Their stats just don't stand out when playing 17 minutes a game in so many games against weak Big East teams. While I wouldn't trade our duo for Hildago and Betts, those two will deliver better stats against much better competition.

The only solution I see is for Geno to give SS and at least 25 to 30 minutes each game, and based on his track record I don't see that happening. It's pretty clear that playing teams like X and DePaul kept us from even winning Conference awards, let alone being real candidates for any national level recognition. (No matter how much RL declares either or both Sarah / Azzi the best player/shooter in the nation on her many broadcasts)

 

[mudcat]

Deservedly so, imo. Villanova beat three teams this past week, one of them was #25 West Virginia. Good for them

#BIGEASTwbb Weekly Honors (12.8.25): Villanova and Creighton Split Weekly Awards

NEW YORK – Villanova’s Brynn McCurry had at least 20 points in all three wins to be named the BIG EAST Player of the Week. Creighton freshman guard Ava Zediker scored a career-high 26 points in the 71-60 win versus Tulsa to earn freshman of the week.

www.bigeast.com

Villanova has won the FOW award twice already this year (different players): looks like the ranked freshmen are settling in.

 

[browns]

As I have posted a few times, our schedule can very possibly cost Sarah and Azzi any real shot at the NPOY. Their stats just don't stand out when playing 17 minutes a game in so many games against weak Big East teams. While I wouldn't trade our duo for Hildago and Betts, those two will deliver better stats against much better competition.

The only solution I see is for Geno to give SS and at least 25 to 30 minutes each game, and based on his track record I don't see that happening. It's pretty clear that playing teams like X and DePaul kept us from even winning Conference awards, let alone being real candidates for any national level recognition. (No matter how much RL declares either or both Sarah / Azzi the best player/shooter in the nation on her many broadcasts)

I disagree.Sarah is known nationally as the leading candidate for NPOY..she fills up the stat sheet every game no matter how many mins. she plays..Plus being the best player on the #1team in the nation carries a lot of weight.Azzi on the other hand I can see making 2nd team AA

 

[Charliebball]

Deservedly so, imo. Villanova beat three teams this past week, one of them was #25 West Virginia. Good for them

#BIGEASTwbb Weekly Honors (12.8.25): Villanova and Creighton Split Weekly Awards

NEW YORK – Villanova’s Brynn McCurry had at least 20 points in all three wins to be named the BIG EAST Player of the Week. Creighton freshman guard Ava Zediker scored a career-high 26 points in the 71-60 win versus Tulsa to earn freshman of the week.

www.bigeast.com

I suspect that the two usual UConn stars will be playing so little during conference games that they will not be doing too much stat stuffing, thus it will be up to the other UConn players to show their stuff.....

 

[Skeets]

I disagree.Sarah is known nationally as the leading candidate for NPOY..she fills up the stat sheet every game no matter how many mins. she plays..Plus being the best player on the #1team in the nation carries a lot of weight.Azzi on the other hand I can see making 2nd team AA

Hopefully the folks who vote on the NPOY consider the stats on a per 40-minute basis. Sarah's stats would be off the charts. Winning an NC helps too. 😊

 

[my2cents]

I call it the UConn penalty. Our stars only play half a game and can't score the amount of points needed to win any awards. We will just have to be satisfied in beating Big East teams by 65 points.

 

[WiseWillie]

There's pluses and minuses to everything. There's pluses of UConn being in the Big East but one of the minuses, as my2cents stated, is the UConn "penalty".

The reason for the low minutes of a star player being on the floor due to weak competition in the BE means that the player is not consistently challenged which is clear whenever watching Sarah play against a BE team. Does this, despite her impressive stats in the limited amount of minutes she may be on the floor, diminish the perceived value of her performance in the eyes of the national voters? It should not it can be argued but, unfortunately, it definitely can have a negative effect.

It would seem to go against the sprit of a national award in the NCAA without some level of extensive playing time. What's a possible solution? For one comparison, the NBA requires a minimum number of games and minutes (Don't quote me on the exact #'s but something like 60+ games and 20 minutes) to be eligible for major awards like MVP. Should the NCAA require a minimum number of minutes to be eligible for the NPOY?

The contrary argument might be despite the limited minutes look at the relative impact a player has to a team's success just being on the floor. If that were the sole criteria Sarah would definitely claim a front roll seat for sure.

 

[Bigboote]

Eight different UConn players have won national player of the year awards 11 times in the past 30 years. I don't really detect a penalty.

 

[Zarathustra]

imho....THE HUSKIES "ONLY" have to win one award.... the
13th NC! go UCONN!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I suspect that in the later half of the schedule "the stars" minutes will go up as Geno works out the top end of the bench and wants to harden up the first team for championships play.

 

[Rowdy831]

I call it the UConn penalty. Our stars only play half a game and can't score the amount of points needed to win any awards. We will just have to be satisfied in beating Big East teams by 65 points.

Odd, I always thought they won more than there share of awards. When you have an outstanding group of players it is more difficult for one to really standout but I think when you have one they win awards. I think Azzi and Sarah will both do well with awards this season.

 

[Linart]

Most games Stewie didn't play much. Didn't hurt her any.

 

[1974yankees]

I call it the UConn penalty. Our stars only play half a game and can't score the amount of points needed to win any awards. We will just have to be satisfied in beating Big East teams by 65 points.

This is why I have repeatedly said that we have had at least 20 players better than Clark.

Look at Clarks numbers for her 139 games played in College.

Caitlin Clark averaged around 34-35 minutes per game (MPG) throughout her college career at Iowa, consistently playing nearly the entire game, with slight variations by season, such as 34.0 MPG (20-21), 35.9 MPG (21-22), 34.4 MPG (22-23), and 34.7 MPG (23-24), totaling a career average of approximately 34.8 MPG over 139 games. She played significant minutes, often close to 40 minutes in big games, demonstrating her high usage and durability, never missing a game.

Clark " consistently played nearly the entire game, every game"

We had players like Maya, Stewart and Dee playing 2 quarters then they were done for the night...

What would Maya score if she played 35 minutes every game of her college career? 6000 points?

Or Strong for that matter.

 

[Geew1992]

As I have posted a few times, our schedule can very possibly cost Sarah and Azzi any real shot at the NPOY. Their stats just don't stand out when playing 17 minutes a game in so many games against weak Big East teams. While I wouldn't trade our duo for Hildago and Betts, those two will deliver better stats against much better competition.

The only solution I see is for Geno to give SS and at least 25 to 30 minutes each game, and based on his track record I don't see that happening. It's pretty clear that playing teams like X and DePaul kept us from even winning Conference awards, let alone being real candidates for any national level recognition. (No matter how much RL declares either or both Sarah / Azzi the best player/shooter in the nation on her many broadcasts)

Why?? It didn’t cost Stewie. And she played in the AAC

 

[my2cents]

This is why I have repeatedly said that we have had at least 20 players better than Clark.

Look at Clarks numbers for her 139 games played in College.

Caitlin Clark averaged around 34-35 minutes per game (MPG) throughout her college career at Iowa, consistently playing nearly the entire game, with slight variations by season, such as 34.0 MPG (20-21), 35.9 MPG (21-22), 34.4 MPG (22-23), and 34.7 MPG (23-24), totaling a career average of approximately 34.8 MPG over 139 games. She played significant minutes, often close to 40 minutes in big games, demonstrating her high usage and durability, never missing a game.

Clark " consistently played nearly the entire game, every game"

We had players like Maya, Stewart and Dee playing 2 quarters then they were done for the night...

What would Maya score if she played 35 minutes every game of her college career? 6000 points?

Or Strong for that matter.

That was my point. Thanks for backing it up with facts.