Could This Be The Best Team Ever?

[chrissaran]

Napheesa is great without question, but she will never dominate on the defensive end the way Breanna did.

 

[Waquoit]

Napheesa is great without question, but she will never dominate on the defensive end the way Breanna did.

But not for lack of trying, just for lack of height.

 

[Wally East]

All of this talk is just so the same as the talk heading into the 2000-01 season.

I know I keep saying that but, wow, it's exactly the same and that just didn't turn out well at all. Things happen during the season. Players develop or don't develop. There are injuries. Opponents emerge. Chemistry develops or it doesn't. A deeper bench does mean there's more of an ability to absorb an injury or two but it also means that chemistry is a lot trickier to deal with. It does sound like from the reports we're getting from practice that the team is doing well on a personal level and that's really important.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

 

[Los24]

Nope. No Stewie, D, or Maya type player on this team. How many undefeated or title seasons have there been without a player like that on the roster?

Are you considering that this team only lost one game in overtime on a last second shot? Many of the players on this team have gone undefeated in a season. They will be better this season as not only will they be one year more experienced and stronger, but their gains in player talent is much better vs what has left. Also, you just listed three of the arguably best NCAA Women's college players of all-time. Having 2 returning all-americans and the DPOY is a solid foundation for an undefeated season.... plus adding another AA candidate in their weakest area last year. Yeah, I think they can go undefeated.

 

[hoophuskee]

All of this talk is just so the same as the talk heading into the 2000-01 season.

I know I keep saying that but, wow, it's exactly the same and that just didn't turn out well at all. Things happen during the season. Players develop or don't develop. There are injuries. Opponents emerge. Chemistry develops or it doesn't. A deeper bench does mean there's more of an ability to absorb an injury or two but it also means that chemistry is a lot trickier to deal with. It does sound like from the reports we're getting from practice that the team is doing well on a personal level and that's really important.

Haven't most of us said that UCONN could lose?

 

[SCGamecock]

Collier is good but Stewart just had this rare combination of height, length, and athleticism coupled with an ability to score anywhere on the floor. Stewart was special. She was so dominant in all facets.. I've always admired Stewart and truly relished watching her play because I've always thought it was unlikely that we'll ever see a college player like her again.. and I still feel that way.

I have no doubt in my mind though that this year's UConn team will be very good though..

 

[cbraarj]

It is hard to judge, because there have never been 4 super stars on one team before. With Maya, D, & Stewie, they stood out and had the spotlight all to themselves. This year that won't happen. This year the super stars are going to have to share the spotlight. I always thought KLS was the second coming of Stewie, and then she found herself on a team with Pheesa and Gabby and learned to subordinate her super star aspirations to play with other super stars. I think it is going to be similar to the Olympic team, where a bunch of super stars had a ball playing together, sharing the spotlight in a true team environment. I bet the players on this team are going to love it.

2002 had 1 1st team AA in Sue Bird, 2 2nd team AA in Cash and Taurasi, 3rd team AA in Aisha Jones and Honorable Mention AA in Tamika Williams! So there is 5 Superstars from 02! WNBA Draft Picks 2 - No.1s, a No.2, a No.4 and a No.6! 2001 IMO was the best team ever!

 

[cbraarj]

Collier scored more points in her sophomore season than Stewart did in her senior season.
Samuelson scored more points in her sophomore season than KML did in her senior season.
Williams scored more points in her junior season than Jefferson did in her senior season.

In the seasons you mentioned above. Three players won NCS in that season and they didnt play last year!

 

[cbraarj]

Azura will play the bigs on defense. That is a given but on offense she can play all 5 spots including the point. She can hit the 3, drive to the hope, post up and hit the mid-range jumper. With her floating out to the 3pt area the middle should be open for Pheese,Gabby and KLS to post up or take it to the hole. 1st team AA and POY IMO.

 

[TitleTown]

In the seasons you mentioned above. Three players won NCS in that season and they didnt play last year!

What?

 

[cbraarj]

Collier scored more points in her sophomore season than Stewart did in her senior season.
Samuelson scored more points in her sophomore season than KML did in her senior season.
Williams scored more points in her junior season than Jefferson did in her senior season.

IN Collier and Samuelson Soph. year and Gabbys JR. season they did score more points than Stewie, KML and Moriah did in their Sr. season. But Stewie, KML and MO won the NC in that season. The other 3 didnt win last year.

 

[bags27]

What a wonderful world for Husky fans (or is is arrogance?). The title of the post asks about the "best team ever" and all we're debating are best UConn teams ever. Guess no non-UConn team is even in that discussion, huh?

 

[TitleTown]

IN Collier and Samuelson Soph. year and Gabbys JR. season they did score more points than Stewie, KML and Moriah did in their Sr. season. But Stewie, KML and MO won the NC in that season. The other 3 didnt win last year.

I understand that. I was just proving the post by Hope that stated the current team has no "proven scoring machines" to be incorrect.

 

[j66kicker]

What a wonderful world for Husky fans (or is is arrogance?). The title of the post asks about the "best team ever" and all we're debating are best UConn teams ever. Guess no non-UConn team is even in that discussion, huh?

Correct.

 

[hoophuskee]

What a wonderful world for Husky fans (or is is arrogance?). The title of the post asks about the "best team ever" and all we're debating are best UConn teams ever. Guess no non-UConn team is even in that discussion, huh?

I wouldn't put any team other a few UCONN teams in the discussion. IMO the 2001-02 team and last year's team were incomparable. That shouldn't mean I'm arrogant or I think so because I'm just a husky fan - unless you want to talk about pre-1995. I never saw them so I have no reason to declare them as GOAT.

IMO from what I've seen since 1995, just a few of the UCONN teams last year and 01-02 are the GOAT. IMO I'm right. That's not arrogant and has nothing to do with me being a Husky fan. I'm a fan of other sports and I don't declare this.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I wouldn't put any team other a few UCONN teams in the discussion. IMO the 2001-02 team and last year's team were incomparable. That shouldn't mean I'm arrogant or I think so because I'm just a husky fan - unless you want to talk about pre-1995. I never saw them so I have no reason to declare them as GOAT.

IMO from what I've seen since 1995, just a few of the UCONN teams last year and 01-02 are the GOAT. IMO I'm right. That's not arrogant and has nothing to do with me being a Husky fan. I'm a fan of other sports and I don't declare this.

hoophuskee- - -IMO the 2000-2001 team has to be talked about with all the other elite teams discussion!
Even though they lost to TN during the season and to ND in FF Semi's they had 7 AA's and 3/4 of the team played in the WNBA! The injuries to Svet and Shea tore the team to pieces from Big East Tournament on!
Geno thinks so also!

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

What a wonderful world for Husky fans (or is is arrogance?). The title of the post asks about the "best team ever" and all we're debating are best UConn teams ever. Guess no non-UConn team is even in that discussion, huh?

bags27- - -When you get down to the facts, there have been good and really good teams from other programs that make for an interesting discussion, but looking at numbers of AA's, WNBA players, quality players over seas, and high quality players that couldn't but should have qualified for AA honors such as Jamell Elliot, Kia Nurse, Kelly Faris, Tiffany Hayes, and several others, the discussion of greatest teams ever in WCBB have to begin and end with UCONN teams!
The good teams from TN, ND, TX, Old Dominion, GA, Alabama, TX Tech, VA, Stanford, USCal, etc played in eras where the big competition was numbered under 5 total, where since 2000 the level of competition has been at a higher, & higher level so the UCONN teams beat better competition each year to reach the top of the pyramid!
And IMHO that isn't arrogance that's facts! Just look at Saniya Chong, Ketia Swanier, Jessica Moore, Kelly Schumacher, Charde Houston, and others that were part-timers for most of their UCONN teams but have had several successful years in the WNBA! S. Chong is among the success stories of a UCONN program, where after her 1st 3 years at CT NO-ONE would have said she'd be drafted let alone successfully helping her Dallas team in so many ways!
Before it's done there will be over 30 UCONN alumni, coaches & ex-players in either the WBB Hall of Fame in Knoxville and/or in the BB Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA!
What the UCONN WCBB program has and will accomplish is among the elite teams in any amateur or professional Sports in Male or Female sports in the USA.

 

[hoophuskee]

hoophuskee- - -IMO the 2000-2001 team has to be talked about with all the other elite teams discussion!
Even though they lost to TN during the season and to ND in FF Semi's they had 7 AA's and 3/4 of the team played in the WNBA! The injuries to Svet and Shea tore the team to pieces from Big East Tournament on!
Geno thinks so also!

No problem RSHER -- we all have different opinions as to who we like and why. Which is why each of thinks we are right but in actuality imo a lot comes down to own POV how you like game to be played etc.

For example for me I wouldn't put 00-01 anywhere near all-time great. I did hear Geno once talking about all-time great teams and then he added 00-01 team and I think he mentioned they were his most talented/ among most etc. But I can't recall he ever said any team is best ever.

But if he did-- and he mentioned any team other 01-02 or 15-16- his team wouldn't be mine. In my personal POV you have to be undefeated to be in the conversation. Secondly, you have to win it all. In regards to undefeated; for me a team that has that monkey on their back of the overall pressure for the entire season without one slip up shows me they have not only an elite will not lose but were always under constant pressure to never falter. For me -- as a team that is a huge part of being GREATEST of ALL-TIME.