Has any other UConn freshman taken this much ownership? | The Boneyard

Has any other UConn freshman taken this much ownership?

Yeah, I have some vague recollection. As a freshman she was playing with Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery... did she own the joint from day one? I mean Paige is flat out saying "this is all on me and I'm good with that". BTW, I think it's true that I don't have the memory I once did... I mean I don't remember having a better memory but I must have, right?
 
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Stewie had a totally different personality than Paige does, and that's fine! She also didn't need to step up and be the vocal leader, not with Stef and Bria and Kelly on the team. Neither did Maya, she had Tina and Renee.

Paige is certainly special, though. She recognizes that the team needs a leader and is totally fine with that role. I can't believe how lucky we are to get to watch her play for UConn.
 
Paige, Stewie, Maya and Dee wouldn’t they make a great starting four! I would have loved to see these 4 play together as freshman and beyond.....! Who would be your fifth?
 
I'm not criticizing any of Paige's predecessors as precocious freshman and I know that Maya, Stewie, DT, Sue were all on that phenom level from early on. What I'm asking about is the leadership and maturity; It maybe that it wasn't needed from those earlier super frosh but Paige seems entirely comfortable with both the challenge and the accountability that comes with leading. She's all of what, 19? Remarkable. Also very interesting from a leadership perspective is the role Evina's carved out for herself. I wonder how much of all this comes from natural assertiveness and how much (if any) is filling a vacuum.
 
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RedStickHusky said:
I'm not criticizing any of Paige's predecessors as precocious freshman and I know that Maya, Stewie, DT, Sue were all on that phenom level from early on. What I'm asking about is the leadership and maturity; It maybe that it wasn't needed from those earlier super frosh but Paige seems entirely comfortable with both the challenge and the accountability that comes with leading. She's all of what, 19? Remarkable. Also very interesting from a leadership perspective is the role Evina's carved out for herself. I wonder how much of all this comes from natural assertiveness and how much (if any) is filling a vacuum.
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I think DT would have/could have, but it just wasn't needed.
 
I am curious to see who comes up big against SC. I have no doubt Paige will do her part but I cant see her going for 30 with Dawn doing everything to make others beat her.
 
I don't think you can compare Paige right now and her situation in terms of taking control, assertiveness and using her voice as a freshman to some of the other big time freshman like D, Stewie, Maya etc because usually UConn has atleast 2 if not more fantastic senior leaders so the freshman are never put in this position. This years team is completely different in that there are no seniors, and aside from Evina who seems comfortable as a leader, there really isnt anyone else as CW and ONO dont suit that role necessarily and need to focus on their own game more. It is almost perfect timing for her to come in and this is basically her team to lead for the next 4 years.
 
RedStickHusky said:
It always comes back to go big or go small.
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Compete Homer Simpson GIF by FOX TV
 
Sorry just to add, I wonder how much the new generation growing up with the social media acclaim has affected that with Paige? She has been more in the spotlight from a young age then the previous players mentioned, even Stewie who wasnt at college that long ago didnt grow up with the attention Paige has. She is used to the pressure, the acclaim and having to deliver in front of thousands of followers following her every move.
 
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eebmg said:
I am curious to see who comes up big against SC. I have no doubt Paige will do her part but I cant see her going for 30 with Dawn doing everything to make others beat her.
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Not sure either but I think Nika's on the selection committee.
 
hart2hart said:
Paige, Stewie, Maya and Dee wouldn’t they make a great starting four! I would have loved to see these 4 play together as freshman and beyond.....! Who would be your fifth?
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Kara
 
sarals24 said:
Stewie had a totally different personality than Paige does, and that's fine! She also didn't need to step up and be the vocal leader, not with Stef and Bria and Kelly on the team. Neither did Maya, she had Tina and Renee.

Paige is certainly special, though. She recognizes that the team needs a leader and is totally fine with that role. I can't believe how lucky we are to get to watch her play for UConn.
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I agree. She’s already the natural leader of the freshmen but you can already see the older players latching onto her as a safety valve. Get stuck with the shot clock winding down? Just get the ball to PB and give her a screen, she’ll figure out something. She’s fine with the role because she’s been in it for her whole BB life.
 
Sanka541 said:
Sorry just to add, I wonder how much the new generation growing up with the social media acclaim has affected that with Paige? She has been more in the spotlight from a young age then the previous players mentioned, even Stewie who wasnt at college that long ago didnt grow up with the attention Paige has. She is used to the pressure, the acclaim and having to deliver in front of thousands of followers following her every move.
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That's a very strong point, but one has to be able to back it up with skills and accomplishment and Paige certainly delivers...An unholy combination: followed, lionized, and delivers...since junior high, it seems...and Geno when asks if he is surprised, notes that she tosses the 3's like last night, every day in practice...

Stewie took a while to find it...hit a real low mid-season with the Baylor game, was quite despondent...but by Notre Dame in the NCAA semi's she was ready to take over...and the poor Irish, didn't know what hit them...I remember one drive from the left (almost sideline) when she just swooshed in and deposited her almost as high as the basket floater....The ND kids just watched in awe....

This is different, part of it is the recent composition of the team in recent years...real, real, good...just missing that essential piece, that transcendent
leader....Lou and Pheesa had wonderful skills, but they did not fit that mould...

And this year's team really, really required it, if they were to become something special...The upperclassman, for all their talent, have nights in which they really struggle....you can't lead if you can barely stay on the court.

And so the kiddy corps, Led by that amazing gifted, totally unafraid, girl/child
that Sanka correctly points out, is accustomed to the adulation, thrives on it,
certainly doesn't let it affect her (negatively)....is with great rapidity, furfilling her destiny.

And we (and Geno) have the enormous pleasure of enjoying her do it.
 
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Prior to this season, Geno has gone on record stating only one UCONN recruit came out of HS ready for College and that was Maya Moore.. Paige has certainly to this point added her name to the conversation, let's hope she continues to plead her case to dethrone Her Majesty Maya Moore ... :)

The following is a reflection on Maya's Freshman year:

Moore led the Huskies to a 36–2 record in the 2007–08 NCAA season, their best record (at that point) since their Final Four appearance of 2004. During the season, Moore averaged a team-high 17.8 points per game, and hit 42% of her three-point shots. Moore also placed second on the team in rebounds with 7.6 per game and blocks with 1.6 per game. She tallied double-figure points 36 times as a freshman including 13 20-plus game, posted 11 double-doubles and set UConn freshman records for points (678), field goals game (275), three-point field goals (73), while ranking among the top five on the rookie charts for scoring average (tied/4th – 13.8 ppg.), rebounds (2nd – 290), assists (5th – 116), steals (tied/6th – 63), and blocks (3rd – 59). Her 678 points broke the UConn single-season record for most points as a freshman (678) breaking the mark set by Svetlana Abrosimova, who had 538 in 1997–98, and besting Tamara James (Miami, Fla.) previous BIG EAST Freshman record total of 650. She tied with Diana Taurasi with a consecutive double-figure scoring record with 31 games. She ranked sixth among BIG EAST scoring leaders at 17.8 ppg, 11th among BIG-EAST rebounding leaders at 7.6 rpg, finished in seventh place among BIG-EAST field goal percentage leaders at .543, ranked fifth among BIG EAST's leaders in three-point field goal percentage at .420.

Moore was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week a conference record 10 times, passing former UConn standout Rebecca Lobo (7) for most selections in BIG EAST history, became the first-ever freshman in BIG EAST Conference history to be recognized as Player of the Week on March 4, she was also named Freshman of the Week, marking the first time the conference weekly honors have been swept by the same player. She was second to Candace Parker in the Associated Press Player of the Year voting and was the first freshman, male or female, to be named the Big East Player of the Year. Only second freshman in history to be named to the Associated Press All-America First Team, USBWA All-America First Team. She was selected as USBWA National Freshman of the Year, also named as the unanimous choice for BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and was a 2008 All-BIG-EAST First Team choice.. She is the first freshman in UConn history to be named as an All-America selection.
 
Bajan Best said:
Prior to this season, Geno has gone on record stating only one UCONN recruit came out of HS ready for College and that was Maya Moore.. Paige has certainly to this point added her name to the conversation, let's hope she continues to plead her case to dethrone Her Majesty Maya Moore ... :)

The following is a reflection on Maya's Freshman year:

Moore led the Huskies to a 36–2 record in the 2007–08 NCAA season, their best record (at that point) since their Final Four appearance of 2004. During the season, Moore averaged a team-high 17.8 points per game, and hit 42% of her three-point shots. Moore also placed second on the team in rebounds with 7.6 per game and blocks with 1.6 per game. She tallied double-figure points 36 times as a freshman including 13 20-plus game, posted 11 double-doubles and set UConn freshman records for points (678), field goals game (275), three-point field goals (73), while ranking among the top five on the rookie charts for scoring average (tied/4th – 13.8 ppg.), rebounds (2nd – 290), assists (5th – 116), steals (tied/6th – 63), and blocks (3rd – 59). Her 678 points broke the UConn single-season record for most points as a freshman (678) breaking the mark set by Svetlana Abrosimova, who had 538 in 1997–98, and besting Tamara James (Miami, Fla.) previous BIG EAST Freshman record total of 650. She tied with Diana Taurasi with a consecutive double-figure scoring record with 31 games. She ranked sixth among BIG EAST scoring leaders at 17.8 ppg, 11th among BIG-EAST rebounding leaders at 7.6 rpg, finished in seventh place among BIG-EAST field goal percentage leaders at .543, ranked fifth among BIG EAST's leaders in three-point field goal percentage at .420.

Moore was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week a conference record 10 times, passing former UConn standout Rebecca Lobo (7) for most selections in BIG EAST history, became the first-ever freshman in BIG EAST Conference history to be recognized as Player of the Week on March 4, she was also named Freshman of the Week, marking the first time the conference weekly honors have been swept by the same player. She was second to Candace Parker in the Associated Press Player of the Year voting and was the first freshman, male or female, to be named the Big East Player of the Year. Only second freshman in history to be named to the Associated Press All-America First Team, USBWA All-America First Team. She was selected as USBWA National Freshman of the Year, also named as the unanimous choice for BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and was a 2008 All-BIG-EAST First Team choice.. She is the first freshman in UConn history to be named as an All-America selection.
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I don't know about taking ownership of a team, but Maya was freakishly good/skilled in her freshman year. That's when I became a Uconn fan.



and people don't even count Maya with all her accomplishments at Uconn in the GOAT debate (between Dee and Stewie) and now some people already crowns Paige as the future GOAT of all WCBB after 14 games. Let's just pump the brake a little bit.
 
pvdoggy said:
Let's just pump the brake a little bit.
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You can pump the brakes if you want; I'm going to enjoy the ride and hope we don't hit a wall. FWIW, I remember Maya walking out as a freshman and instantly being the best athlete on the floor. It's a great memory which should not be diminished or challenged because another freshman is playing exceptionally well a dozen years later. Unlike most places, UConn has room for a handful of GOATs.
 
eebmg said:
I am curious to see who comes up big against SC. I have no doubt Paige will do her part but I cant see her going for 30 with Dawn doing everything to make others beat her.
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Interesting point of view. SC hasn't faced anyone like Paige this season.

Will Dawn change her defensive scheme to try to stop one player? I don't think so but I'm sure she will have a wrinkle or two.

The problem is if you try to double Paige someone else is open and Paige will find her the vast majority of the time. Then you need to rely on your help defense. And can SC defend the pick and roll all night?

It will be a test for both teams.

If it comes down to coaching, we have the edge.
 
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