Duke's Williams is turning into a handful...

[pap49cba]

20 pts, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals & 5 blocks at GTech last night.

Game report.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I had thought she could be the ACC POY this year. That might be a stretch, but the season still has a ways to go. Alyssa Thomas at Maryland and either Johnson or Williams at Miami may be the primary competition.

There is a reason that EW and KML were at the top of their HS class. Both are a cut above.

 

[EricLA]

i think EW has been the best freshman this year so far. usually it takes post players longer to develop, but she certainly hit the ground running.

 

[MilfordHusky]

i think EW has been the best freshman this year so far. usually it takes post players longer to develop, but she certainly hit the ground running.

She seems to be up to speed now. I thought KML had a better start. I'd rate them about even, but I have faith in our 6th man.

 

[EricLA]

She seems to be up to speed now. I thought KML had a better start. I'd rate them about even, but I have faith in our 6th man.

ha-ha. i wasn't implying KML won't be terrific. she's a really good all around player, but i'll admit i've been surprised at some of her really bad shooting nights. she was wide open vs. UNC, but went 3-13. she's still shooting a respectable % (37), but 7 out of her 12 shots on average are 3 pointers (compared to Bria who is attempting 4.5 out of 11.6 per game). she's a really good shooter and 37% is respectable. but she's currently the 3rd most accurate 3 point shooter on the team (behind Bria and Caroline and barely ahead of Tiff)...

 

[Wbbfan1]

A match up to watch when UConn plays Duke is Stef vs Williams. Will Stef be able to limit the scoring Williams does against UConn? How Kiah plays against her will also be interesting.

 

[HuskyNan]

ha-ha. i wasn't implying KML won't be terrific. she's a really good all around player, but i'll admit i've been surprised at some of her really bad shooting nights. she was wide open vs. UNC, but went 3-13. she's still shooting a respectable % (37), but 7 out of her 12 shots on average are 3 pointers (compared to Bria who is attempting 4.5 out of 11.6 per game). she's a really good shooter and 37% is respectable. but she's currently the 3rd most accurate 3 point shooter on the team (behind Bria and Caroline and barely ahead of Tiff)...

Tsk, tsk, tsk - you're not just looking at her scoring, are you?

KML:
14.5 ppg (3rd on team)
5.0 rpg (3rd on team)
2.1 apg (T for 4th on team)
1.6 spg (4th on team)
Total TOs - 22 (2nd among players with 20+ minutes per game)
Assists/turnovers - 1.6 tied with Bria

As a freshman.

 

[doggydaddy]

Tsk, tsk, tsk - you're not just looking at her scoring, are you?

KML:
14.5 ppg (3rd on team)
5.0 rpg (3rd on team)
2.1 apg (T for 4th on team)
1.6 spg (4th on team)
Total TOs - 22 (2nd among players with 20+ minutes per game)
Assists/turnovers - 1.6 tied with Bria

As a freshman.

Williams has been more impressive.

14.1 ppg (1st on team)
9.0 rpg (1st on team)
1.5 apg (T for 4th on team)
1.6 spg (T for 4th on team)

Total TOs - 58 (worst on team)​

Assists/turnovers - .4 (worst on team)
Blocks - 66. 3.9 per game.

 

[EricLA]

Tsk, tsk, tsk - you're not just looking at her scoring, are you?

KML:
14.5 ppg (3rd on team)
5.0 rpg (3rd on team)
2.1 apg (T for 4th on team)
1.6 spg (4th on team)
Total TOs - 22 (2nd among players with 20+ minutes per game)
Assists/turnovers - 1.6 tied with Bria

As a freshman.

fair enough. but did you get the part in my post where i said "she's a really good all around player"?

there was a point early on where some thought she may be the best player on the team as a freshman. it's still a huge accomplishment to be one of the best as a freshman, but i think Bria and Tiff are having better all around seasons. not by much - the numbers comparing Bria, Tiff and KML are very close. KML is going to be a special player for us... so glad we landed her!!!

 

[doggydaddy]

fair enough. but did you get the part in my post where i said "she's a really good all around player"?

there was a point early on where some thought she may be the best player on the team as a freshman. it's still a huge accomplishment to be one of the best as a freshman, but i think Bria and Tiff are having better all around seasons. not by much - the numbers comparing Bria, Tiff and KML are very close. KML is going to be a special player for us... so glad we landed her!!!

Just my opinion, but Kelly is right there with all of them. It's what makes UConn so good. Top players in the first 6 in the game.

 

[Suebird10fan]

Duke looks very, very likely to be the best non-UConn team in the country in two years. All of their key players are freshmen or sophomores.

 

[EricLA]

Just my opinion, but Kelly is right there with all of them. It's what makes UConn so good. Top players in the first 6 in the game.

totally - can't believe i left her out. her defense - steals, etc. and even guard play (is she 2nd in assists) has been fantastic. she's overlooked, if possible, on this UCONN team and deserves all the praise she gets.

 

[HuskyNan]

Williams has been more impressive.

I was responding Eric's post that focused only KML's scoring, not saying that Kaleena is a better player than EW

 

[doggydaddy]

I was responding Eric's post that focused only KML's scoring, not saying that Kaleena is a better player than EW

okie dokie.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Duke looks very, very likely to be the best non-UConn team in the country in two years. All of their key players are freshmen or sophomores.

Yeah, I agree, and add Alexis Jones next year.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Williams has been more impressive.

14.1 ppg (1st on team)
9.0 rpg (1st on team)
1.5 apg (T for 4th on team)
1.6 spg (T for 4th on team)

Total TOs - 58 (worst on team)​

Assists/turnovers - .4 (worst on team)
Blocks - 66. 3.9 per game.

????

EW has more rebounds and blocks (and TOs). KML has more of everything else. It looks pretty even to me.

 

[doggydaddy]

????

EW has more rebounds and blocks (and TOs). KML has more of everything else. It looks pretty even to me.

Just in comparison to contribution to their respective teams.

I wouldn't trade anyone for Lewis. She is very good and going to end up spectacular.

 

[alexrgct]

Yeah, I agree, and add Alexis Jones next year.

Duke, along with perhaps Texas A&M, will be pretty freaking stacked. The possible lineups of Bria-KML-Moriah/Morgan-Breanna-Stef in 2013-14 and Moriah-KML-Morgan-Breanna-Kiah in 2014-15 are ridiculous, however...especiall given who's coaching them.

 

[tomcat]

As I posted last week, there's a reason UConn wanted Williams. Comparing her to KML is apples to oranges, particularly when looking at pure statistics. Consider that given the rest of the Duke team and the rest of the UConn team. I don't think there's any doubt that Williams is more valuabel to that team right now than KML is (as good as she is) to UConn.

Also Williams appears to be getting stronger as the year progresses. KML seems to have leveled off (granted, at a prett high level, but her game has not advanced much from where it was a few games into the season, IMHO.

So when UConn plays Duke next, I expect a UConn victory, probably by more than a few baskets. But UConn will get a taste of what it will be like to cover Williams for the rest of her college career, and that ain't gonna be easy.

 

[triaddukefan]

EW has definitely exceeded my expectations. A few of you guys told me she'd be a special player... and

She has improved her free throw shooting during the year.. and has become a more efficient scorer.. and is getting better at passing out of the post. Still has to cut down on the turnovers.. though... but I suspect that she will.

The most telling stat last night was that she only had 1 foul. Goodlet for GaTech is a good scorer... and physically imposing as well. I thought that she might could get EW in foul trouble, but it didnt happen. The next few weeks will be very interesting... especially on Sunday dealing with all of Maryland's Trees. They have alot of big bodies to throw at her. Then comes Dolson... and then a matchup with Shegog and UNC. Personally I think she is gonna abuse Shegog. I expect Shegog to lose her cool about midway through the second half.. and start throwing around some elbows and maybe commit a flagrant foul.

Just in comparison to contribution to their respective teams.

I wouldn't trade anyone for Lewis. She is very good and going to end up spectacular.

Exactly... Duke fans wouldnt trade anyone for EW... and Tenn fans wouldnt trade anyone for Massengale. Lots of young talent in WCBB.

 

[alexrgct]

Shegog is She-god-awful

 

[pap49cba]

I'm willing to cut her some slack for now Can't be easy playing in glasses when you're not accustomed to it.

 

[alexrgct]

I'm willing to cut her some slack for now Can't be easy playing in glasses when you're not accustomed to it.

I believe that was Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. Definitely wasn't Shegog in any case.

 

[Icebear]

I believe that was Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. Definitely wasn't Shegog in any case.

Yes, alex is correct it was not Shegog in the goggles.

 

[triaddukefan]

I believe that was Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. Definitely wasn't Shegog in any case.

Actually it was Broomfield their Power Forward. Think she got that eye injury vs Maryland. Not sure if it was a scratched cornea or what..