Block Party Is On

[DobbsRover2]

Comparing stats for two seasons is not exactly apples to apples when you're looking at this year's 15 played games versus last year's 40, but still a few tendencies are clear so far. This year's team has been using their pressing defense and increase of about 2 steals per game to shoot a higher FG% (+3.0%) while also hitting better from behind the arc (+3.7%). A couple areas where the team has significant step backs in are FT% (-5.0%, though they are also shooting more of them and making the same number per game), turnovers (about 2 more per game), and PFs (about 3 more per game). Assists and rebounds are pretty similar, and UConn is scoring 6.7 more points per game while giving up 3.5 more.

But blocks is a really interesting stat because last year UConn set an NCAA record for total blocks behind the formidable trio of Stewart, Dolson, and Stokes. With Dolson gone this year's team took a little while to get their legs under them and they started slowly. But in the last 7 games starting with UCLA, Stokes and Stewart have gone crazy with the Huskies averaging 9.3 bpg, which is well above last year's 8.1 average though for the season they still trail at 7.3. Stokes at 3.93 bpg is a smidgen behind Rebecca Lobo's 3.97 bpg in her junior year of 1993-94, but Stokes would break the UConn record for total blocks by about 22 at that rate if she plays in six more games than Lobo's 33 that year. Stokes and Stewart have gotten 56 of the 65 blocks during the 7 game stretch, with Stokes averaging 4.3 and Stewart 3.6.

So as long as Kiah and Stewie continue to play whack-a-mole in the paint, opponents can pretty much abandon all hope when entering there.

 

[UcMiami]

Interesting numbers - and given that 14 of the remaining 15 games are against the AAC with more lopsided games expected the numbers for this year should continue to rise. USF is likely the only AAC team to mount any sort of challenge. If the bench continues to improve their play in the mop up minutes we might be in for some historic numbers.

 

[bschwartz]

Here are a few of Kiah's SMU block highlights... LINK

 

[DobbsRover2]

Interesting numbers - and given that 14 of the remaining 15 games are against the AAC with more lopsided games expected the numbers for this year should continue to rise. USF is likely the only AAC team to mount any sort of challenge. If the bench continues to improve their play in the mop up minutes we might be in for some historic numbers.

On the one hand you can say that Stewie will not be getting as many minutes in most of the next 19 games than the 30.0 mpg she's at, and that could cut into her numbers a bit. But then Kiah could possibly be out on the floor more dominating the paint especially in the second half. Could cut either way.

Also, you may have noticed when mainly the second unit was in for much of the second half, SMU at first started driving past defenders and trying to hit lay-ups, which Kiah whack-a-moled. So then the Mustangs started firing 3s, and they got hot for a while with them. Other AAC teams in the later portions of games may try the same tactic if they have any players who can bomb them, so UConn's second unit may need to extend the defense a bit. In yesterday's game though, the SMU shooters in that late-game hot stretch were just very open and had great looks at the basket.

 

[Sonny44]

Here are a few of Kiah's SMU block highlights... LINK

It's comical really.
You would think they would just give up and shoot threes.

 

[VAMike23]

A related statistic:

B. Griner career
4,768 mins played
748 blocks
= 1 block every 6:22

K. Stokes career [thru 1.1.2015]
1,846 mins played
237 blocks
= 1 block every 5:03

 

[JFC613]

A related statistic:

B. Griner career
4,768 mins played
748 blocks
= 1 block every 6:22

K. Stokes career [thru 1.1.2015]
1,846 mins played
237 blocks
= 1 block every 5:03

I would have lost a bet on this stat. Wow......if she ever can get her offensive game going just a little bit she'd be even more awesome!

 

[DobbsRover2]

I guess the other player to throw into the stats is Louella Tomlinson of St. Mary's (2008-2011), who the NCAA says has the record for blocks per game, while Griner holds all the totals records. She has a better minutes per block stat than Griner, but she's well behind Stokes.

L. Tomlinson career
2864 mins played
507 blocks
= 1 block every 5:39