Defensive play - Nika

[veryolddog]

"THE MULE": Marine Corps tough. [ ]

 

[meyers7]

The FS1 announcer called her "a 3-point specialist." Ok, be honest--who saw that coming?

Muhl doesn't need to be a "specialist". UCONN will have a couple of them over the next few years. But if she could shoot a few here and there like Rizzotti or Conlon that would be fantastic.

 

[BBallF]

Many of the very best defensive players in the history of the Association weren't speedsters. Paul George, Gary Payton, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, Marc Gosol, Sidney Moncrief, Mehta World Peace. The list is long. What they had was good foot movement, quick hands, great anticipation, and the desire to be very good indeed.

I would add Dennis Rodman and Bill Russell, neither of whom were speedsters either, with the additional characteristic that they were great students of the game and the opposing players. For them defense, including defensive rebounding, was also about positioning. Bill Russell said he "got" most of his rebounds before the ball even hit the rim and there was that great scene in The Last Dance where you saw Rodman studying ball flight and bounces off the rim from various players and also the moves of the player he was going to be guarding. One thing about Nika is that she waits for the crossover from the opposing PG and frequently times the deflection perfectly. You knew she was going to pick her pocket last night and it could not have come at a better time. What an incredible transformation this year for a young woman thousands of miles away from home and for our team.

 

[AmeriConn]

Nika just makes the ball handler nuts. She is so agonizingly annoying they lose their cool. She is not really fast, but her hands are quick, she is determined , and absolutely fearless. She gets knocked over backwards several times a game and pops back up like Tigger. As the striped character sang, Everyone el-lus is jealous because Nika's a wonderful thing!

Annoying as a gnat to her opponent!

 

[Bama fan]

Annoying as a gnat to her opponent!

Could be a new character in the Marvel Universe. They have Ant Man, the Wasp, and now Nika the Gnat! Maybe Geno could get a cameo as Iron Man, and CD as the Black Widow.

 

[Blacketh’D]

She's definitely the most locked in. I think when you have to identify yourself on a talented team, this is how she does it. The first couple games I saw her play, I thought of her as someone who would maybe transfer in the future if she didn't get her minutes or would be that senior who only plays on senior night. I can confidently see her future here on this team and how impactful she can be. She's carving a spot for sure (she's def slow though meyers7)

 

[tomcat]

Why is it when I see Muhl I start to see Rizzotti?

 

[AmeriConn]

Could be a new character in the Marvel Universe. They have Ant Man, the Wasp, and now Nika the Gnat! Maybe Geno could get a cameo as Iron Man, and CD as the Black Widow.

I like it! NIKA THE GNAT

 

[cwaduke]

This freshman class has brought the toughness and attitude that have made the upperclassmen better. Nika is so tough, Paige smart, AE so strong and relentless.....They have brought out the best in Chistyn and Liv, who are really finally playing up to their potential. I look forward to how Mir and Piath develop. I have enjoyed watching this team develop more than any group since the Stewie years.

 

[BooYah77]

Why is it when I see Muhl I start to see Rizzotti?

If you haven't already, check out Nika's Croatian League promo videos (previously posted here... beautifully produced, by the way) and tell me that intense, relentless and creative young player isn't beginning to find her footing at UConn. I remember a European scout describing her as "an assassin." You betcha. Nice smile, too.

 

[ABCDFE]

Yes, Defensively Nika has been stout. Her pickpockets this year against all types of guards has been a real treat to watch. But what has made her a very important player and bona fide starter is her willingness and ability to hit threes. Early in the year she couldn't make anything (layups inlcuded). Now I know longer worry about her shooting it. She has proven that she can be at least a 33-35% shooter, which to me is solid enough to keep defenses honest and allow Paige, CWill, and Evina/Mak the ability to attack or take their shots without having defenders sag or double. I think there's been enough of a data set to say that I don't expect Nika to regress during the tournament.

 

[Bigboote]

Nika now has the second-highest 3PT percentage on the team.

 

[Childhood]

Nika reminds me a lot of Marcus Smart in NBA. TOUGH GUY!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Nika now has the second-highest 3PT percentage on the team.

Nika is 24-69 for .348. After her 0-6 start over several games, she's 24-63, which is a decent .381.

BTW, Nika's .348 matches the team's overall .348.

 

[MSGRET]

Yes, Defensively Nika has been stout. Her pickpockets this year against all types of guards has been a real treat to watch. But what has made her a very important player and bona fide starter is her willingness and ability to hit threes. Early in the year she couldn't make anything (layups inlcuded). Now I know longer worry about her shooting it. She has proven that she can be at least a 33-35% shooter, which to me is solid enough to keep defenses honest and allow Paige, CWill, and Evina/Mak the ability to attack or take their shots without having defenders sag or double. I think there's been enough of a data set to say that I don't expect Nika to regress during the tournament.

I believe that the reason why she couldn't hit the threes early in the year was because she had a foot injury and that altered her shot. Now that the foot is okay her shot has more arc on it and it looks more natural then the ones she was shooting earlier in the season.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I believe that the reason why she couldn't hit the threes early in the year was because she had a foot injury and that altered her shot. Now that the foot is okay her shot has more arc on it and it looks more natural then the ones she was shooting earlier in the season.

Yeah, I think the foot was a factor. I think she also worked on her form, putting a little more arc on the ball, and holding her follow-through.

 

[Golden Husky]

Nika has begun setting up very low in her defensive stance, giving her better quickness and mobility. And while it seems counterintuitive that a player who earlier in the year had difficulty keeping her opponent in front of her would benefit from picking up her opponent so high (sometimes just past the half court line), it seems to work in that Muhl bottles up her opponent before she can get started, allowing her to make poke-check steals.

It's made a vast difference in her play, her confidence and how much she's been able to contribute to the UConn effort.

 

[MD#12Fan]

I would add Dennis Rodman and Bill Russell, neither of whom were speedsters either, with the additional characteristic that they were great students of the game and the opposing players. For them defense, including defensive rebounding, was also about positioning. Bill Russell said he "got" most of his rebounds before the ball even hit the rim and there was that great scene in The Last Dance where you saw Rodman studying ball flight and bounces off the rim from various players and also the moves of the player he was going to be guarding. One thing about Nika is that she waits for the crossover from the opposing PG and frequently times the deflection perfectly. You knew she was going to pick her pocket last night and it could not have come at a better time. What an incredible transformation this year for a young woman thousands of miles away from home and for our team.

Great post. Love the Rodman reference. One of only a couple that could slow down Bird.
Book suggestion: Last Pass about the relationship between Cousy and Russell. Covers early Celtics stuff great. Russell obviously drafted by the Celtics out of USF. Delayed showing up to camp for the Olympics. They won the title in 56-57 his rookie year. In addition to his D, he was brilliant at getting out on the break with Cousy. Red had taken the NBA by storm with his fast break style and Russell was the missing piece. (understatement) Russell was also a trackster in college. I believe a long jumper and quarter man or quarter hurdler, somebody help me.

 

[jazz]

Nika was all over Jordan King in the first quarter. As a result, Marquette’s offense was disorganized and rushing to score one on one. She was a one woman wrecking crew. Great stuff from the freshman

She's been tremendous on the defensive end. Never seems to get tired.

 

[jazz]

Why is it when I see Muhl I start to see Rizzotti?

I see the same, but Imagine saying that before she was put into the starting line-up? You would have been crucified for it.

 

[Bald Husky]

I like it! NIKA THE GNAT

Yes, Nika the Gnat, I like it. No, I love it. Lets get this movement started. Email ESPN and tell them Nika the Gnat is coming to San Antonio and to an ESPN station near you.

 

[BBallF]

Great post. Love the Rodman reference. One of only a couple that could slow down Bird.
Book suggestion: Last Pass about the relationship between Cousy and Russell. Covers early Celtics stuff great. Russell obviously drafted by the Celtics out of USF. Delayed showing up to camp for the Olympics. They won the title in 56-57 his rookie year. In addition to his D, he was brilliant at getting out on the break with Cousy. Red had taken the NBA by storm with his fast break style and Russell was the missing piece. (understatement) Russell was also a trackster in college. I believe a long jumper and quarter man or quarter hurdler, somebody help me.

According to Wikipedia, he was a champion high jumper and jumped 6'9 1/2" without the Fosbury Flop ( came about in 1978) which changed the event and led to all the new records. He also ran the 440. He averaged 22.5 rebounds per game for his NBA career. John Wooden said he was the greatest defensive player he ever saw. I also thought he was the best and most astute TV commentator ever on basketball, with Hubie Brown being a close second.

 

[AmeriConn]

Yes, Nika the Gnat, I like it. No, I love it. Lets get this movement started. Email ESPN and tell them Nika the Gnat is coming to San Antonio and to an ESPN station near you.

NIKA THE GNAT is always in your face!

 

[SVCBeercats]

Many of the very best defensive players in the history of the Association weren't speedsters. Paul George, Gary Payton, Draymond Green, Rudy Gobert, Marc Gosol, Sidney Moncrief, Mehta World Peace. The list is long. What they had was good foot movement, quick hands, great anticipation, and the desire to be very good indeed.

What I forgot to add was these players also studied their opponents very closely and became aware of their tendencies. As Nika ages she'll take advantage of video more.

John Stockton - 3,265 career steals - 2nd place? Jason Kidd 2.684 whom I didn't consider fast but both were astute basketball players with great anticipation.

They may study film already since Geno says they study the game and are basketball players first and athletes secondarily.

 

[oldhusky]

Remember when the early season threads contained some posters suggesting Nika would never be any better than Molly Bent? I suspect most of the people on that side of the argument had not watched the extensive video of her on Youtube, or they would have been willing to give her more time to prove her worth.

I think we can put those comparisons to bed for good now!