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Comparisons

AmeriConn

AmeriConn

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Why must we always compare current and incoming UConn players to past players? Asking for a friend :rolleyes:
 
Because it's an honor to compare the best with the best. In the Association there are always comparisons between players like Kobe and Michael, Shaq and Wilt, Zion and Barkely, Stef Curry and, well, no one really. Brady and Rodgers, Hank and The Babe, Woods and Nicklaus. Sports lends itself to comparisons.
 
Well, it's a familiar reference point - a very human thing to do, compare your "new" player to ones that seem to be similar. I mean, we do it with everything, from cars and homes to jobs and vacations. Given how dynamic an 18-year old player is, and how little many of us follow recruiting them when they're 15 or 16, it's an entirely normal thing to try and place our first impressions in context - and, our context is the players we have seen before. There's certainly a risk of over-stating things or making a big jump to conclusions, but, it's not a remarkable thing to do.
 
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I think there an unconscious need to slot players, to classify them. Look at families and newborns. The first thing they do is comment on who they look like. There is likely a sociological explaination, that they are in essense saying "yes, they are part of the family". So maybe the fans that enjoy doing it to incoming players are just attempting to identify them as new members of the "family".

My questions to those who do it, as incoming freshmen:

Who did Maya Moore remind you of?

Who did Taurasi remind you of?

Who did Stewart remind you of?

I'll wager that most, right now, can neither remember nor are interested in doing so.
 
MilfordHusky said:
It’s not intended to be a put-down at all. I saw Saylor in person last night. She reminds me of Sveta and Ann. I’ll see Mir tonight. I expect her to play something like Kalana Greene. It helps others to understand.
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You may want to lower your expectations. ;)
 
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Alydar said:
I think there an unconscious need to slot players, to classify them. Look at families and newborns. The first thing they do is comment on who they look like. There is likely a sociological explaination, that they are in essense saying "yes, they are part of the family". So maybe the fans that enjoy doing it to incoming players are just attempting to identify them as new members of the "family".

My questions to those who do it, as incoming freshmen:

Who did Maya Moore remind you of?

Who did Taurasi remind you of?

Who did Stewart remind you of?

I'll wager that most, right now, can neither remember nor are interested in doing so.
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Maya reminded me of Holdsclaw. The first female players to have NBA jump shots.
 
MilfordHusky said:
Maya reminded me of Holdsclaw. The first female players to have NBA jump shots.
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Nice for anyone to be compared to Holdsclaw but I was looking for former UConn players.
 
Maybe there was/has been no one like DT/Maya/Stewie at UConn?

I will say, personality-wise/ferocity-wise, DT reminded me of Shea.

Maya - Sales with a little Jamelle.

Stewie - A little Tina-calmness/relentlessness.
 
Alydar said:
I think there an unconscious need to slot players, to classify them. Look at families and newborns. The first thing they do is comment on who they look like. There is likely a sociological explaination, that they are in essense saying "yes, they are part of the family". So maybe the fans that enjoy doing it to incoming players are just attempting to identify them as new members of the "family".

My questions to those who do it, as incoming freshmen:

Who did Maya Moore remind you of?

Who did Taurasi remind you of?

Who did Stewart remind you of?

I'll wager that most, right now, can neither remember nor are interested in doing so.
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So funny, I was about to ask the same questions!

One step further. If Paige is being compared to DT, she lives up to the hype, then graduates. Who does the next incoming player, who reminds you of both DT and Paige, get compared to?
 
I believe we tend to do this in every sport from college to the pros. Is LeBron better than Michael? Are either one of them better than The Big O? How about Williams or DiMaggio? That's the fun. Everyone choosing is right and everyone choosing is wrong.
 
Steelerone said:
I believe we tend to do this in every sport from college to the pros. Is LeBron better than Michael? Are either one of them better than The Big O? How about Williams or DiMaggio? That's the fun. Everyone choosing is right and everyone choosing is wrong.
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giphy1.gif
 
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What??? Geno does it too??

* Coach Auriemma compares Mir to Ashley Battle and a shorter Aubrey Griffin.
 
MilfordHusky said:
Maya reminded me of Holdsclaw. The first female players to have NBA jump shots.
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Back then everyone was comparing Maya to Holdsclaw or Catchings. In many ways she ended up being like a hybrid of the 2, pretty accurate comparison I'd say.
 
Alydar said:
I think there an unconscious need to slot players, to classify them. Look at families and newborns. The first thing they do is comment on who they look like. There is likely a sociological explaination, that they are in essense saying "yes, they are part of the family". So maybe the fans that enjoy doing it to incoming players are just attempting to identify them as new members of the "family".

My questions to those who do it, as incoming freshmen:

Who did Maya Moore remind you of?

Who did Taurasi remind you of?

Who did Stewart remind you of?

I'll wager that most, right now, can neither remember nor are interested in doing so.
Expand ...

Moore as noted was compared to Holdsclaw and Catchings. Pretty sure no one compared her to past Huskies.

I'm not sure message boards were even invented or in full force yet when DT was being recruited so I have no idea.

IIRC you'd hear Stewart associated as being similar to EDD or Parker but having obvious differences too. Again, in 2012 UCONN never had a player with her abilities at 6-4 so I don't think a UCONN comparison was evident.
 
JordyG said:
Because it's an honor to compare the best with the best. In the Association there are always comparisons between players like Kobe and Michael, Shaq and Wilt, Zion and Barkely, Stef Curry and, well, no one really. Brady and Rodgers, Hank and The Babe, Woods and Nicklaus. Sports lends itself to comparisons.
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My favorite has always been Mantle Mays and Snider as the best centerfielder in NY..
 
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cbraarj said:
Holdsclaw my favorite Lady Vol player!
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Mine too. Best Tennessee collegiate player ever and unquestionably one of the best collegiate players ever. Sad her pro career didn't pan out as expected (for a number of reasons) but I'm happy that she's doing well and seems to have turned her life around after going through some really dark years.
 
AmeriConn said:
Why must we always compare current and incoming UConn players to past players? Asking for a friend :rolleyes:
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Pro scouts do that in every major team sport, as do Media commentators. It’s the nature of the beast.
 
Dokey said:
The ultimate goal of every great player is not to be compared to anyone.
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Impossible. Human civilization and progress is built on (hopefully) objective comparison people (no matter how talented) make with others.
 
Diana, Sue, Maya, Stewie....all unique; really unlike any other...
Same in the pros...Cousy, Sharman, Mamba, Wilt....could go on.

Did things their own way; really impossible to compare except for cold stats.

Even sub-greats...Will we ever see a teeny-tiny like MoJeff intersect with the trees so effectively and fearlessly?

Perhaps not.
 
eebmg said:
Impossible. Human civilization and progress is built on (hopefully) objective comparison people (no matter how talented) make with others.
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I don’t disagree with you, but comparisons are usually for those on the periphery, onlookers, or the media. Most players are uncomfortable being compared to former greats who have already accomplished amazing things, while they are just trying to make their own way, and establishing themselves as dependable players and a good teammate. Any additional pressure added to those already daunting tasks, for a 18 or 19 year old athlete, can become an anchor and inhibit progress. Teams, as a general rule, hate being compared to past teams, and especially at UConn, that means unreasonable expectations. The people who have to be the most cautious about comparisons are the coaches, because they want to be able to tell individual players and their team that any other comparisons are outside their control, and to be taken with a grain of salt. Even Geno dislikes comparisons.

 
Twolf said:
I don’t disagree with you, but comparisons are usually for those on the periphery, onlookers, or the media. Most players are uncomfortable being compared to former greats who have already accomplished amazing things, while they are just trying to make their own way, and establishing themselves as dependable players and a good teammate. Any additional pressure added to those already daunting tasks, for a 18 or 19 year old athlete, can become an anchor and inhibit progress. Teams, as a general rule, hate being compared to past teams, and especially at UConn, that means unreasonable expectations. The people who have to be the most cautious about comparisons are the coaches, because they want to be able to tell individual players and their team that any other comparisons are outside their control, and to be taken with a grain of salt. Even Geno dislikes comparisons.

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But yet, Geno does it as well. I agree, players are initially honored to be compared to a great player, but really only want to be themselves.
 
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