gaBBy!

[Bigpetunia]

Because great basketball teams are so often comprised of role players, players who not only accept key roles but excel at them, I have long been a pretty vocal advocate for what Gabby brings to the table. I have readily admitted that her overall game may fairly be considered to be a bit on the raw side, but any downside in that regard has, in my opinion, been far more than offset by the positives, and by the pure aggression with which she plays on both ends of the court. Yet, inexplicably (to me), she has been a rather "tough sell" to many of our fellow posters on this forum. I know the in-conference schedule is rather weak, but I'd like to encourage everyone to go to the replay site and watch just the first quarter of the UCF game. Then, will the doubters weigh in and reevaluate her contribution? Her confidence level is growing exponentially, as is the game that goes with it!!

 

[Kibitzer]

Big P, thank you for providing a sound explanation for Gabby having been awarded more Badass Awards than anyone except Stewie and Mo.

 

[EricLA]

Because great basketball teams are so often comprised of role players, players who not only accept key roles but excel at them, I have long been a pretty vocal advocate for what Gabby brings to the table. I have readily admitted that her overall game may fairly be considered to be a bit on the raw side, but any downside in that regard has, in my opinion, been far more than offset by the positives, and by the pure aggression with which she plays on both ends of the court. Yet, inexplicably (to me), she has been a rather "tough sell" to many of our fellow posters on this forum. I know the in-conference schedule is rather weak, but I'd like to encourage everyone to go to the replay site and watch just the first quarter of the UCF game. Then, will the doubters weigh in and reevaluate her contribution? Her confidence level is growing exponentially, as is the game that goes with it!!

Great post and I also love Gabby's game - and the way she played early on, some of us were talking about her like a future AA. Then something happened...

Her production pretty much fell off a cliff. I can't seem to find her game by game production, but it was pretty dramatic, and seems to be the reason Geno went to Napheesa and then to KLS as starters for the team. Then against USF she was in the starting lineup again and scored 19 points... against SMU she started again, played only 17 minutes, and had 10 points, 7 boards, 4 steals, and 1 assist/block. Not sure what to make of her - maybe she had a mini slump? She's 2nd on the team in steals just behind Moriah and just ahead of Saniya. Love watching her play, not sure what to make of it, and don't mind that I can't put her into any sort of normal category. Kid's a winner and a joy to watch...

 

[facey76]

Gabby is a one-woman wrecking crew on the court, her EP per 40 is highest on the team and her BRATS per 40 is second only to Natalie (surprise) and Stewie by a very thin margin. She is definitely a plus players based on offensive efficiency and on extra possessions gained. She has also become an excellent interior passer. She is second only to MoJeff in "wow" moments.

It is a tough choice between Lou, Napheesa and Gabby for playing time as they each bring their own set of skills.
I am amazed at how good Napheesa's defense has been, she gets an abnormally high number of blocks for her height.

 

[bags27]

Gabbie has fantastic potential. Just consider how far she's come since last year (and consider that, IIRC, she missed a lot of high school ball because of injury). Imagine if that rate of improvement continues into next year!

I don't think we can consider Gabby quite the same way we consider most other Huskies. Her skill set thrives in creating and taking advantage of chaos. I personally think that's what next year's team is going to look more like: faster (not because the players are faster, but because with Stewie gone, they won't play as much of a low post game), spread the floor even more, more defensive pressing. Lou is going to be great at that, too: 6'3" driving through greater openings; and Napheesa will snap up everything that Gabby doesn't.

 

[Scud49]

She's definitely t not a "hard sell" to me - I love her aggression, athleticism, defense, rebounding, and overall court awareness.

She can whip off that quick pass without hesitation. She just makes things happen in her own unique and positive way.

Plus, she's making strides with that jumper, and I only see upside for her in that phase of the game.

 

[UcMiami]

Love her game and if you really watch her in the past few games she is doing much more on offense than she was doing even in her great early games - her movement is much better and she isn't just relying on getting the ball at the foul line and driving. Her cuts are sharper and with more purpose, and she is flashing at the short corner more than she did early in the season.
I think she is playing smarter on defense as well while still being a terror in terms of steals and passing lanes.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

It remains to be seen what Gabby can bring when she has to deal with talented big people
like Coates and Wilson.

The South Carolina game should give us an indication whether or not Gabby is ready for
prime time (like the final four).

 

[Replicant]

Gabby is our X Factor! She has a Cazzie Russell-like affect on the game every time she's inserted.

 

[JordyG]

Because of her athleticism Gabby seems to have a high ceiling. However, I wouldn't call her game raw so much as unrefined. Her inside game is very good. Defensively she is very good. Offensively her shot from the foul line in is not pretty. She leans too far forward and her legs typically splay out. I'm typically surprised when her shot drops. She'll have to work hard to to develop a pull up jumper that doesn't hit the back of the rim. A jump shot as trailer on the fast break is going to be difficult to develop as well. My biggest problem is why are these reply boxes getting smaller?

 

[Gus Mahler]

One of the things I admire about Gabby is her use of her off hand (left) around the basket. She looks like she has drilled on those baby/half hooks for many hours. Sometimes they look like shot puts but she is very effective with either hand. And she is marvelous at keeping her balance in case she needs to go back up.

 

[tony yusef]

Love everything about Gabby and what she brings to this team, if she can hit that 15ft jumper the sky is the limit.

 

[tony yusef]

It remains to be seen what Gabby can bring when she has to deal with talented big people
like Coates and Wilson.

The South Carolina game should give us an indication whether or not Gabby is ready for
prime time (like the final four).

They question is can Coates and Wilson deal with a player who is smaller, quicker and a superior athlete. But has the leaping ability to play and battle them in the post. Wilson is the real deal, but I think Coates is overrated.

 

[DaddyChoc]

that jump bank mini-hook fingerroll lay-up is simply amazing... love it, that leg does kick out a whole lot tho but whatever

 

[boontonbomber]

I don't think that there is anyone on the team better at getting the ball to someone for a scoring opportunity. She ,and Lou, see the whole court so well; both better , I think, than any of the starters. Gabby is a bit unorthodox, but she gets the ball to where it has to go. At the moment I think she contributes more than Kia. It really doesn't matter who starts on this team, but Gabby should certainly be getting a few more minutes . She has earned them with her effort and production.

 

[Huskie78]

Culmo's Courtvision: Gabby Williams
From the SMU game. Amazing!
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/culmo...-presented-by-yale-new-haven-health/162787288

 

[UcMiami]

Culmo's Courtvision: Gabby Williams
From the SMU game. Amazing!
https://www.sny.tv/uconn/news/culmo...-presented-by-yale-new-haven-health/162787288

I remember thinking when I saw that live - yeah, well, the person she is exploding over is a guard trying to box her out - maybe 5'10". Not really a fair fight there. It is a really nice play, and with the camera angle of the basket cam it looks even cooler, but ...
She has had 'wowier' moments against forwards and centers.

 

[Roundball fan]

Last Wednesday I took my 7 year old Grandson to a local college basketball game, trying to get him interested in the game. We had to leave with about 5 minutes to go because the girls were on at 8 and of course I had get home in time for that. I dropped him off and went home to watch the game and about the end of the first quarter my daughter calls and tells me that James gets one show to watch before he goes to bed, so he asked if they got SNY because Papa's girls were on. I was so surprised that he wanted to watch but his mother also watched and the first thing she said was "who is this Gabby girl, she is terrific ". I said yes she is a lot of fun to watch but they are all terrific. We are so lucky to have such great players and coaches.

 

[Kmoney]

I like this one.

 

[Bonpland]

I'm not sure Big P. that she isn't "appreciated" by the faithful, but I think Boonton's comment the she is "unorthodoxed" is to the point.

We like to compare new players, their style and their "game" to former players or other stars and that's harder to do with Gabby. I compared her, on another thread, to Ashley Battle who's speed and athleticism had her playing defense all over the court and skying for rebounds, but I think that Gabby, has the potential anyway, to be much more of a scorer and game changer than AB was (and I say that as a fan who loved AB).

I think her abilty to score has already improved greatly. Nothing makes us fans crazier than watching one of our "guys" miss a layup or a put-back, and without looking for statistical backup (is there such a thing for missed bunnies?) I'm going to say that she is our most efficient player under the boards. Not our best, but she is the one that we can most count on to finish the play if she gets the chance.

Along with everyone else I'll be anxious to see how she contributes against SC and in the tourney, but I'll stand now with those who see great things for her in our collective future.

 

[EricLA]

I like this one. View attachment 11877

That a 5'11" kid can reach the rim is amazing and a testament to her jumping ability (which of course is not a surprise, I suppose, since she is an Olympic caliber high jumper)...

 

[hoophuskee]

I don't think that there is anyone on the team better at getting the ball to someone for a scoring opportunity. She ,and Lou, see the whole court so well; both better , I think, than any of the starters. Gabby is a bit unorthodox, but she gets the ball to where it has to go. At the moment I think she contributes more than Kia. It really doesn't matter who starts on this team, but Gabby should certainly be getting a few more minutes . She has earned them with her effort and production.

Other than what is in bold - I disagree big time with everything you said. Big time. So when the OP spoke of tough sells from boneyarders and he or she agreed with what you said for everything else not in bold, I guess I'm one of those "tough sells."

I love Gabby. I still don't understand why she only got 15 minutes in her last game. The only thing I can think is that in practices she is getting outplayed or while he is coaching a game he doesn't realize one player only got 15 while another got 20.

But if you and the OP and some others think the way above not in bold - then yes from someone like me - Gabby is a very hard sell. I like what another poster said - I think she struggles with elite caliber-team size. So when she makes a spectacular plays vs UCF as the OP mentions- that's good but can it be done vs the elites? And not only vs elite size but it seems she starts in right away and makes plays vs UCF. Why not Notre Dame make consecutive plays? She was terrific vs Ohio State. SO I KNOW she is getting there. IMO no way she is near what you say in non-bold though.

 

[Kmoney]

That a 5'11" kid can reach the rim is amazing and a testament to her jumping ability (which of course is not a surprise, I suppose, since she is an Olympic caliber high jumper)...

Someone on here posted this picture before gabby so fresman season. There was doubt that she would be ready for the season after her knee surgery. This pic ended that debate.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Remember people for 2 years in HS she was a GUARD then missed both her Junior and Senior years to ACL injuries so what she is doing NOW is off the charts! She is learning as she is playing! Everything is a new experience to her! Geno has said Gabby most likely is the best athlete he has ever coached! The only thing that has slowed her down so far is earlier this season when teams played a zone and clogged the middle but she has learned her way out of that and is out-performing bigger and possibly talented & C's! Geno just said that during last weeks practices Gabby was the best player on the court!
Today's game she was 6 for 6 from FT's and 3 12'-15' jumpers!
Her future is without a ceiling!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Gabby is our X Factor! She has a Cazzie Russell-like affect on the game every time she's inserted.

I'm feeling old. This was from 50 years ago.

Cazzie was the overall #1 draft pick.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cazzie_Russell