Clay Kallam picked ND to win it all

[Icebear]

Not sure why everyone has a big issue with questions about UConn's depth. It is undoubtedly the team's biggest weakness (if not, what is?). The roster has just 9 scholarship players! And 3 of them have big question marks (Chong - frosh, Banks - recovering, Stokes).
UConn clearly has the best starting 5, but throw in a twisted ankle, foul trouble, or even a bad cold, and the team has some vulnerability.

I'm one of those who think ND lost a ton with Diggins graduation, but the Irish have 2 big advantages: hosting the Regional and that they will not be intimidated by UConn. Who else can say that? Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, and Maryland have all lost badly in recent years.

Those would all have been better answers than what Clay gave.

 

[Phil]

Let's say Kara's ranking comes true.

1. UConn
2. Duke
3. Maryland
4. Louisville
5. Tennessee

The Louisville hosts as a #1. Both S-curve and geography out TN with Louisville. (While the s-curve is deprecated as the main consideration, it is still considered. In this case moot.)

I don't think they put UConn as a #1 at ND. They are more likely to get Nebraska. That means ND has to beat Duke or MD to reach the FF. Very possible.

 

[Bigpetunia]

In all of our off-season back-and-forth conjecture, I have been a proponent of the idea that ND, absent Diggins, is still very formidable, especially if the new kid can actually play point guard effectively as a Freshman, no small task. Since I continue to believe they have the second best team (and second best coach) in the country, and given the fact that Clay has everything to potentially gain and little to lose by being about the only "expert" to pick against the grain, I can't really fault his "logic." I don't think he's right, but he does maybe have a valid point about our depth up front. Kiah, understandably, based on her limited minutes last year, tends to get lost in the discussion. But if you were an opposing coach, how would you have your team take on UConn? We may not like it, but you know that teams are inevitably going to play us with bigtime physicality...lots of mugging. This is the kind of environment that can get Stef in foul trouble, often with blatantly unfair calls going against her. We would be helped enormously by Kiah stepping up dramatically, asserting her natural gifts in a much more physically dominating manner than we've previously seen. If that happens....look out!

 

[jdubct]

While I disagree with his conclusions, I like the fact that Uconn is not considered the overwhelming favorite (like Baylor last year) to win the championship. With the competition relatively close, the team will be forced to improve their play lessening the likelihood of a loss like Baylor had against Louisville in the NCAA semifinals this past year.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I agree, Ice, but Clay explains himself somewhat HERE (starts about 1/3 of the way down the page after I question him about it). In short, he's fearful that Stef's injury will linger: "UConn is extremely good, and like every other team at this level, needs to stay healthy. The reason, though, I singled the Huskies out is that Dolson was struggling with stress fractures, a notably nasty and lingering injury, at the end of last season, and they are extremely thin at that position"

UConn looked bad when Dolson missed a game last year due to illness (a sample of one, of course), but the UConn's other bigs seem to have progressed since then, although the Huskies would miss Dolson's passing ability and savvy on the court if she were to miss extensive time. In the thread he goes on to say that UConn IS the prohibitive favorite, but he's sticking with his pick of Notre Dame.

If you use hypothetical future injuries to prop up a point, anything becomes possible.

 

[Icebear]

Clay'sprediction is akin to the work of mentalists and a common trait of human memory. Of about every 10 educated guesses a cold reading mentalist makes based on observation of the subject about two or three are affirmed. However, those other seven or eight are are dismissed by the memory because the focus moves to the correct answers and wipes away the others.

No one will remember if Clay is wrong but if his oddball pick hits he looks like an exceptional prognosticator.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Clay Kallam..........Typical West Coast Bias.
Wait that doesnt sound right.
I guess if you pick UConn there isnt a lot to talk or argue about.
If you pick against UConn you rile up the forummites and get people talking about you.
Thus I can only conclude there is some sort of connection between Clay Kallam and Miley Cyrus.

 

[Icebear]

Thus I can only conclude there is some sort of connection between Clay Kallam and Miley Cyrus.

Has he purchased a wrecking ball lately?

 

[Vowelguy]

If you use hypothetical future injuries to prop up a point, anything becomes possible.

Injuries are part of the game, especially in wcbb. It is not unreasonable to discuss how teams will fare if/when injuries occur.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

Injuries are part of the game, especially in wcbb. It is not unreasonable to discuss how teams will fare if/when injuries occur.

Then I repeat...Morgan and Kiah. Discuss that.

 

[Phil]

If you use hypothetical future injuries to prop up a point, anything becomes possible.

True, but it is entirely reasonable to be more concerned about injuries when one has a 9 player roster (sorry Polly and Tierney) than when one has a 15 player roster. (At least I hope it is reasonable, because I worry.)

 

[UcMiami]

Ouch good point.

I did say rare, I didn't say it never happened. Of course, Baylor was predicted to win it all, so a related question is, when's the last time a FF team returned 4 of 5 and wasn't predicted to repeat? My guess is that happens as well, maybe a surprise FF team like Missouri State or Michigan State, but I bet it is rare.

Stanford 2013 so it happen to two teams last year both with very good coaches and at least one superstar on the returning team.

 

[rt bb fan]

Cannot access Clay's article. Also no ones talks about if the other teams have injuries and how it will affect there play.

 

[rt bb fan]

Link finally worked.

 

[Kibitzer]

The only thing thin about UConn's front court is Stewie.

But her arms, while thin, are long.

 

[Vowelguy]

Then I repeat...Morgan and Kiah. Discuss that.

As I said above, just 9 players, 3 with significant question marks.

Until kiah shows she's willing to even look at the basket, let alone take a shot, she is not much of a factor.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

As I said above, just 9 players, 3 with significant question marks.

Until kiah shows she's willing to even look at the basket, let alone take a shot, she is not much of a factor.

She can be a factor when not scoring. Defense, rebounding, running the court, shot intimidation...

 

[Kibitzer]

Serious or untimely injuries to key players will negatively affect any team.

Absent some past history or other justification, it is neither posssible nor tasteful to randomly predict injuries to teams or individual players.

And what, Clay/pray tell, is so "thick" about ND's front court that makes them impervious to possible injury there vs. UConn's ("thin") vulnerability with only Stef, Stewie, Morgan and Kiah as "bigs"?

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

It takes convoluted cognition to post negatives about this team as I see it...

I wonder if injury would affect other teams…ya think!

Is depth defined by number or talent? We have a quality 8…how many have that, no less more…

Four possible All Americans…negate that.

Maybe we are not doomed…

 

[Sonny44]

I think the NC ours.
I'd put ND in the top 5 though. Throw out whomever.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

To Say ND would win it all... While I do not agree I could see his argument for it. But Tennessee as #3? I cannot figure that one out.

 

[Wonkster]

To be fair, lemmings have never been lemmings, but I catch your point.

Yeah - sometimes lemmings turn out to be just ordinary voles.

 

[pinotbear]

If you use hypothetical future injuries to prop up a point, anything becomes possible.

Really? Whoot! Scarlet Johansson, here I come! (It may take a little time, and a bit of luck, but, hey! I like hypothetical futures where anything becomes possible)

 

[wallman]

Clay Kallam..........Typical West Coast Bias.
Wait that doesnt sound right.
I guess if you pick UConn there isnt a lot to talk or argue about.
If you pick against UConn you rile up the forummites and get people talking about you.
Thus I can only conclude there is some sort of connection between Clay Kallam and Miley Cyrus.

LOL good one, but now if Clay posed naked covered in paint that would be something to really talk about or NOT!

 

[MarlboroughMike]

I picked ND second in the boneyard poll and can see three concerns (two that have been discussed extensively - I have excluded the injury agenda)) that could push them (ND) to one:

1) Mo's outside shot or lack thereof if it doesn't materialize this year - that allows the defense to play 5 on 4. I know she can drive, but she has to put ball up at odd angles when she is among the trees.

2) I watched Kiah in the First Night Game and I did not see any great change from last year. From the 4:55 point to the end of first half - I counted 12 times she was in camera range and gave her a plus or a minus depending on whether I THOUGHT she was engaged with other players. I came up with 12 minuses. I know the way the game was played could lead to some of this, but all the other women appeared to be engaged in the game most of the time. I will be her biggest cheerleader should Gino's comment about her be correct.

3) I will never use my boneyard name around UConn fans, because this next one will get me stomped smaller than a grape being dejuiced. KML needs to stop channeling Kelly - I saw this last night and during the World University games. KML is a shooter first and foremost, she does not need to emulate Kelly, which is what I SEE. When she becomes Kelly, she tends to shoot like Kelly (1 for four on threes last night and they did not look good, forget the Univ. games and I hope she does). She needs to become KML and add the other pieces to the KML persona, otherwise I believe she will have a hard time breaking the 45% mark on threes.