DePaul Postgame Thread

[Notyetready]

You seem totally absorbed by the thought that Nika needs to score. We just had a 94 point game with zero points from her. All she did was get 10 helpers, and could have been a few more if her teammates could make layups, get 8 boards and run a 94 point offense. What did she take, maybe 2 shots? Why would she need to shoot when the rest of her team is operating on all cylinders and they are better scorers than she is?
She is in charge of a top 2 or 3 level team's offense that basically has only been using 4 other players, while leading the country in assists by a large margin. Get over the "Nika has to shoot/score for this team to succeed." I only care about the team's points, not one player who is doing so much more than scoring.

Exactly. Period. Or, in this case, two periods.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Well, Patterson stepped off the gurney and pulled down 6 rebounds so a quick turnaround is possible and done by some players.

Patterson did not step off the gurney. She had been practicing over the last week. She just needed the final clearance to go full contact.

 

[Littlemin]

I think no one questions Nika value to this team and all agree with her outstanding skills and ability to defend, assist, rebound and run this team. With that said, all of the “ score crowd” just wants her to be able to keep the defense honest . If SC shuts down Lou or one of the big 4 - we will be in trouble.
Also, if Nika has a goal of the WNBA, she would be so much more marketable if she could consistently hit the pull up - the 3 or drive occasionally.
I am not sure why it is one or the other -
I think she is not far off.
Just not shooting well lately !!! I hate the fact that Geno has to dance when she hits a shot.
When your up by 40, she should take a few game shots.

You miss the essence of Muhl, she has a goal to win right now.
As for shooting people have been posting the 5 on 4 nonsense since her freshman year, and I have yet to see a team successfully employ it. Why do you think?
Creighton tried it last year and she torched them, Seton Hall intended on doing it in the first game this year and she torched them; just look at Borzello’s disgusted reaction when she hit the “leave her alone” wide open 3 to open the game. His strategy went out the door that quickly!
She can shoot when left alone, has proven it, she is a career 33% or so 3 point shooter; not off the charts but certainly good enough; coaches are not stupid, they know what she is.

 

[LarryLegend]

Aaliyah's or masks?

would that he could

 

[Cornell Lt]

Exactly. Period. Or, in this case, two periods.

Time will tell. I'm a Nika fan, but reality is that it will be really difficult to go deep in the NCAA tournament with only 4/5 of the players scoring. Sure it will fly in the Big East but not on the national stage.

 

[Littlemin]

Time will tell. I'm a Nika fan, but reality is that it will be really difficult to go deep in the NCAA tournament with only 4/5 of the players scoring. Sure it will fly in the Big East but not on the national stage.

Did it fly in the 7-1 OOC tough national stage part of the schedule? Love the “I love Nika, but” posts that the facts just don’t support.

 

[Carnac]

You seem totally absorbed by the thought that Nika needs to score. We just had a 94 point game with zero points from her. All she did was get 10 helpers, and could have been a few more if her teammates could make layups, get 8 boards and run a 94 point offense. What did she take, maybe 2 shots? Why would she need to shoot when the rest of her team is operating on all cylinders and they are better scorers than she is?
She is in charge of a top 2 or 3 level team's offense that basically has only been using 4 other players, while leading the country in assists by a large margin. Get over the "Nika has to shoot/score for this team to succeed." I only care about the team's points, not one player who is doing so much more than scoring.

Players have different "roles" on a team. When I played (I was a post player), I was not a prolific scorer. My coach told me he did not need me to score. He said: "I've got scorers. I need a rebounder, shot blocker and a rim protector." THAT was MY role, and I was good at it. No other teammate was as good at it as I was.

Nika's role is not necessarily that of a scorer. She is needed to do other things her teammates cannot do. Together (as they did Monday night), they can work in concert to produce a convincing win over a formidable opponent. You have your scorers, defensive specialists, and your reserves. How many games would you win if you had 14 scores on your team, but none of them could play any defense? You don't have to score a ton of points to help your team win, especially when you're surrounded by other players that can. I'll take a 94-51 win against every team we play the rest of the year.

 

[DEFCONN1]

On a different note I loved the sequence where the camera followed AE and Morrow coming down the court with Morrow throwing her body into AE all the way down. AE was totally unfazed by it and delivered her own bumps along the way. I bet Morrow is not used to that happening as many players try to avoid the banging. As I recall during her first year AE was surprised by and avoided even the body bumps by her teammates after a good play. Now she leads with those bumps!

And Aubrey took a shot by Morrow at the end of that sequence.

 

[Cornell Lt]

Did it fly in the 7-1 OOC tough national stage part of the schedule? Love the “I love Nika, but” posts that the facts just don’t support.

Said I was a fan, not "I love Nika". You might a better fit for that description than me. I look at things through a practical lens and I'm glad you don't agree. That's why discussion boards were created.

 

[JDForever]

They guard her even running half court, because she is still running the offense. Aubrey during the same half court they don't guard.

Which is why Aubrey is seldom boxed out and also why she can drive to the basket so easily

 

[hoopsnloops32]

She's on crutches for at least the next week. South Carolina is in 12 days. UConn is not known to bring people back quickly.

She's on crutches for less than a week now. Two weeks from Sunday. You are using the date we found out as the date she's been on immobilized but the re-injury was a week before we actually found out. I'd imagine they'd retest Monday - and then thats 6 days. Agree at Uconn its unlikely (thought their slow return doesn't seem to help compared to other schools) but would think any other school she'd be playing if she was cleared.

That being said I don't think she'll play but wouldn't be surprised either way given the nature of the injury.

 

[Littlemin]

Said I was a fan, not "I love Nika". You might a better fit for that description than me. I look at things through a practical lens and I'm glad you don't agree. That's why discussion boards were created.

Your first comment is very true, my bad, and sincere apology, my sarcasm obviously not well received and that is noted on my part.
Me, I love Muhl as a player, no doubt, since you relish the discussion, (as do I), I am interested in your take on the OOC success with Muhl as it relates to your opinion regarding the NCAAs.

 

[Notyetready]

Time will tell. I'm a Nika fan, but reality is that it will be really difficult to go deep in the NCAA tournament with only 4/5 of the players scoring. Sure it will fly in the Big East but not on the national stage.

People are extrapolating from one game in which the MOV was 40 and Nika scored zero. Like now she is going to score zero in the final four or something. Nika averages 6.7 points per game-- including her zero point games. Let's extrapolate from that. That is the point Bills fan, myself and others are making.

 

[npignatjr]

Time will tell. I'm a Nika fan, but reality is that it will be really difficult to go deep in the NCAA tournament with only 4/5 of the players scoring. Sure it will fly in the Big East but not on the national stage.

Every UCONN NC had 5 double digit scoring players? Remember 9+ assists and superior defender.