Butler Picks UConn

[Zorro]

The ratings systems are not a joke, but neither are they entirely accurate and unbiased. Each ratings organization has its own biases, conscious or otherwise. If you take a sort of unofficial average of them all, you usually get a pretty fair idea of what a player's strengths and weaknesses are. It is hellaciously tough to predict just how successful a highschool kid is going to be over her four years in college. Some terrific HS players just don't work out to be terrific wcbb players, for a variety of reasons.Others become much better than even the best of the experts predicted. Bound to happen. Even Geno makes an occasional mistake, and he looks at his prospective players much more intensively than any of the services can look at each of several hundred players.

I would like to add one more word to the Natalie thread. I don't think it is at all likely to happen, but if it SHOULD happen that for some reason Natalie does not achieve what many of us expect her to, I am sure that there will be some curmudgeons who take it upon themselves to criticize her effort, her psyche, her attitude. But I am also sure that if that were to happen, for every Boneyarder who feels entitled to dump on her, there will be a multitude who will dump on that poster. All any of us have a right to expect of any of our girls is that they do the best they can, and we all know that, unless a player busts her butt in practice, she is not going to get into the game. If occasionally some one of us forgets these basic facts, they will be reminded by the rest of us. The Boneyard is NOT going to turn into the Summitt! We just ain't that kind of folks.

 

[hoophuskee]

I wonder if a recruit like Samuelson (smart girl, family sis's go to Stamford) thinks (even a little)…?
Sure I'll play, no problem with minutes for a talent like me but don't they bloody have enough already?
Should I instead go to Notre Dame?
At least there'll be some spirited competition.

Just thinking.

This can be said for nearly every single recruit we get. For example, Natalie Butler is assured of nothing though her size makes her unique.

 

[DaddyChoc]

over 18000 views... cool

 

[Icebear]

I'm not saying Natalie can't or won't be a great player at UConn. Believe me, I'd be thrilled if she were able to step in and be an impact player. What I am saying is that annointing her a potential All American, dominating center, etc etc before her first practice at UConn is setting unrealistic expectations. I'll bet Natalie has set similar expectations for herself, I hope she has, but I seriously doubt she'll create a dozen threads on the Boneyard saying how she didn't live up to the hype if her first year at UConn isn't what people had expected. It's especially ironic that it's the Boneyard creating the hype and it would be the Boneyard that would rip into her if she failed to live up to it. I have seen this happen too many times to count on the Boneyard through the years.

Except that it wasn't the Boneyard that started the AA talk but other folks previously seeing her and knowing the development curve she has been on since high school.

 

[TroyHouse66]

Re: Natalie Butler... "The Second Coming" (actually The Transfer)
************************************
Kibitzer
<<It doesn't take much for Boneyarders to react like cats on catnip laced with steroids.>>
************************************


Would folks here, kindly, relax momentarily and employ the Boneyard for its amusement value?
(Please let us NOT get all worked-into-a-frenzy and, momentarily, enjoy the levity here.)

Remember the movie... "UP"
and it's dog-collar-enabled talking pooch...
(SQUIRREL!!)
Just relax & reflect on our years of rampant recruiting rumors on the Boneyard...
(CENTER!!)

 

[Kibitzer]

I stand by my oft-repeated statement: There is nothing more difficult in sports than evaluating how talent at one level will perform at the next, higher level.

The recent NFL draft bears me out. They spend millions to evaluate college talent and still get it wrong very often. Same goes for the NBA.

As for the HS rating services, we must remember that their first priority is certainly football, with men's and women's basketball next. That's a helluva lot of athletes to evaluate which makes it amazing that they do it well so often.

Even Geno and his colleagues don't always agree. I am reliably informed that a few years ago Geno had doubts about a HS player, but an assistant persuaded him to offer her. She came, played 4 years, acquired 2 NC rings.

Goes to show, it's a tough job................and so on.

 

[Tonyc]

Why was she not ranked higher? She was a work in process,and a late bloomer. Her upside potential is phenomenal and her attitude and work ethic say UConn Uconn. Uconn. Her stats from her senior year in HS and her freshman year in college show me how she's not a could've been, she is the real deal. Why wouldn't she put up similar numbers at UConn that she put up at GTown? The BE is better then the AAC isnt it or at least comparable. UConn OOC schedule will be a challenge, but it was for Tina Stef and Kiah too and they did fine. How many teams have players 6'4 or above that can put up her numbers? One question will be her defense against top teams because GTown didn't play alot of top 5 teams. That is something Geno will work on and he has a year to get her ready. Don't forget, she will be practicing against Stokes, Stewart and Tuck all experienced National Champions. She wants to learn and get better, she's already proven that by committing to UConn so quickly.

Will she average a double double at UConn? IMO she has a better chance then not because she's already done it. What if she doesnt? If she doesn't and averages 8 pts and 8 rebounds a game her first season at UConn is fine with me. I think that would be better then not having her, however, there is a learning curve and yes there is still room for improvement. Hey if she averages 8/8 her first season at UConn I think most of us will be happy because we know she will only get better. I don't expect her to come out of the gate against a top 5 teams and score 18 pts and 12 rebounds but I also don't expect her to score 6 pts and 6 rebounds. I expect her to play within the flow of the team concept and for Boneyarders who want to knock her or give their negative opinions on her when she does have a poor game, I think other Boneyarders will handle that.

She brings back the intimidation factor. She will be part of our 6'5 6'4 6'3 6'3 combo underneath and those numbers will last for the next 6 years. How many rings will that translate to? Understand where UConn is now. We have the post players, wings, and guards for the next 5-6 years. We have a go to player in Stewart and if Tuck healthy it puts us over the top. Everything else is gravy. IMO the next must get is a Durr. With Natalies commitment the question remains, not who can beat UConn because imo if UConn loses its a fluke but who can compete with UConn. The bar has been set even higher. Yes higher. Think about this. What will the starting lineup be Stewarts senior year? It just might be one of the best of all time. How many teams can come close to that?

Obviously someone has been working with Natalie for her to go from an unknown to BE FOY and put up the numbers she has. It if very difficult to predict someone to be an AA. However looking at Natalies numbers, her improvement over the past couple of years and now coming to UConn surrounded with players who buy into Geno philosophy it imo looks very hard for her to fail to not get better. The winning environment is there at UConn. Its contagious like the flu. Just the fact that she is dedicated to practice and working hard to get better and the fact that she has committed so quickly to UConn tells me she is hungry and wants it.

I think she may have reached her potential at GTown. I think she wanted more opportunity in WCBB. I think her HS coach saw what she had become and realized her limitations at GTown. To get better and reach her goals she needed to transfer. The timing is perfect for her. Stef graduates, Kiah has one year left and Natalie has a year to work with the team before she makes her debut and I expect it to a high anticipated debut. Just my thoughts .

 

[WesternPaFan]

Why was she not ranked higher? She was a work in process,and a late bloomer. Her upside potential is phenomenal and her attitude and work ethic say UConn Uconn. Uconn. Her stats from her senior year in HS and her freshman year in college show me how she's not a could've been, she is the real deal. Why wouldn't she put up similar numbers at UConn that she put up at GTown? The BE is better then the AAC isnt it or at least comparable. UConn OOC schedule will be a challenge, but it was for Tina Stef and Kiah too and they did fine. How many teams have players 6'4 or above that can put up her numbers? One question will be her defense against top teams because GTown didn't play alot of top 5 teams. That is something Geno will work on and he has a year to get her ready. Don't forget, she will be practicing against Stokes, Stewart and Tuck all experienced National Champions. She wants to learn and get better, she's already proven that by committing to UConn so quickly.

Will she average a double double at UConn? IMO she has a better chance then not because she's already done it. What if she doesnt? If she doesn't and averages 8 pts and 8 rebounds a game her first season at UConn is fine with me. I think that would be better then not having her, however, there is a learning curve and yes there is still room for improvement. Hey if she averages 8/8 her first season at UConn I think most of us will be happy because we know she will only get better. I don't expect her to come out of the gate against a top 5 teams and score 18 pts and 12 rebounds but I also don't expect her to score 6 pts and 6 rebounds. I expect her to play within the flow of the team concept and for Boneyarders who want to knock her or give their negative opinions on her when she does have a poor game, I think other Boneyarders will handle that.

She brings back the intimidation factor. She will be part of our 6'5 6'4 6'3 6'3 combo underneath and those numbers will last for the next 6 years. How many rings will that translate to? Understand where UConn is now. We have the post players, wings, and guards for the next 5-6 years. We have a go to player in Stewart and if Tuck healthy it puts us over the top. Everything else is gravy. IMO the next must get is a Durr. With Natalies commitment the question remains, not who can beat UConn because imo if UConn loses its a fluke but who can compete with UConn. The bar has been set even higher. Yes higher. Think about this. What will the starting lineup be Stewarts senior year? It just might be one of the best of all time. How many teams can come close to that?

Obviously someone has been working with Natalie for her to go from an unknown to BE FOY and put up the numbers she has. It if very difficult to predict someone to be an AA. However looking at Natalies numbers, her improvement over the past couple of years and now coming to UConn surrounded with players who buy into Geno philosophy it imo looks very hard for her to fail to not get better. The winning environment is there at UConn. Its contagious like the flu. Just the fact that she is dedicated to practice and working hard to get better and the fact that she has committed so quickly to UConn tells me she is hungry and wants it.

I think she may have reached her potential at GTown. I think she wanted more opportunity in WCBB. I think her HS coach saw what she had become and realized her limitations at GTown. To get better and reach her goals she needed to transfer. The timing is perfect for her. Stef graduates, Kiah has one year left and Natalie has a year to work with the team before she makes her debut and I expect it to a high anticipated debut. Just my thoughts .

Tonyc.......I fully agree...I see AA!

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Has anyone here seen her play, in person?