Have to Wonder if KML Starts Does she win Freshmen of the Year ?

[Wbbfan1]

Williams wins Freshmen of the Year - Link

Williams had a great year for Duke but so did KML for UConn.

 

[alexrgct]

KML is being given short shrift, IMO. Her performances against top competition are a big part of why UConn is in the position it's in this season. Her recovery after a terrible first half last night was remarkable for a freshman at that juncture of a season. With all due respect to EW who has been as good as I expected (and I expected a lot), I absolutely would not trade KML for EWill. Wouldn't even consider it. KML is beyond precocious. She's just a great player.

 

[sarals24]

Exactly. I bet KML wouldn't trade that award for the chance to play for a NC while Williams is at home watching on TV

 

[RealHusky]

I suppose that the little mid-season slump that both KML and Bria experienced was a factor in FoY and the AA selections. That's too bad but they are certainly playing wonderful basketball now...when it counts most.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I suppose that the little mid-season slump that both KML and Bria experienced was a factor in FoY and the AA selections. That's too bad but they are certainly playing wonderful basketball now...when it counts most.

I'd agree with that.

 

[HuskyNan]

With all due respect to EW who has been as good as I expected (and I expected a lot), I absolutely would not trade KML for EWill. Wouldn't even consider it. KML is beyond precocious. She's just a great player.

+1

There was a play last night, don't even remember what it was, after which I turned to my husband and said "Kaleena has a tremendous basketball IQ". She's made some amazing rebounds, has played impressive D as a freshman, and just seems to be around the ball because she can see what's developing - very Svet-ish. Absolutely, as great as Elizabeth is, I would rather have Kaleena.

And she has a great smile, too!

 

[hoopfan515]

I suppose that the little mid-season slump that both KML and Bria experienced was a factor in FoY and the AA selections. That's too bad but they are certainly playing wonderful basketball now...when it counts most.

If someone had told me both KML and Bria would struggle with their shot and we'd still win, I'd say they were nuts. No chance. Give credit to Kelly and Caroline for stepping up. It was a total team effort.
We'll definitely need KML and Bria to both play extremely well both halves against Notre Dame.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I suppose that the little mid-season slump that both KML and Bria experienced was a factor in FoY and the AA selections. That's too bad but they are certainly playing wonderful basketball now...when it counts most.

I'd agree with that.

I would think that some of the other "All Americans" went thru a slump this season but we dont kno about it because we dont follow them as close.

 

[willtalk]

It isn't just only about scoring. One aspect of the game that is not being considered in these previous posts is defense. In that area EW is outstanding and in that area she can also impact a game. I don't believe the same can be said for KLM. I believe EW had a much greater impact on defense this year than she did on offense. She still has a lot to learn in order to adjust to the level of the defenders she faces in college.

 

[Icebear]

It isn't just only about scoring. One aspect of the game that is not being considered in these previous posts is defense. In that area EW is outstanding and in that area she can also impact a game. I don't believe the same can be said for KLM. I believe EW had a much greater impact on defense this year than she did on offense. She still has a lot to learn in order to adjust to the level of the defenders she faces in college.

KML is a very good defender who works so well that UConn's NCAA leading defense doesn't lose anything when she enters.

 

[alexrgct]

It isn't just only about scoring. One aspect of the game that is not being considered in these previous posts is defense. In that area EW is outstanding and in that area she can also impact a game. I don't believe the same can be said for KLM. I believe EW had a much greater impact on defense this year than she did on offense. She still has a lot to learn in order to adjust to the level of the defenders she faces in college.

KML's defensive skills are excellent. She has more rebounds than any freshman guard in Uconn history. Her rebound and block numbers aren't going to be what EW's are because she's not a post player. However, she got more and more aggressive on that side of the ball as the season wore on.

Bottom line, I have a big game against a top-flight opponent coming up, and I can have KML on my team or EW. Who do I pick? KML. Every single time. That should count for something.

 

[sarals24]

I am not trying to knock Duke's coach here (you can find plenty of that on the Duke board ) but I wonder how much more EW would have developed at UConn under CD? She has so much raw physical talent, a la Tina Charles, but we'll see in the next few years how much better she gets. She needs to add a few more facets to her game, like a little mid range jumper that Tina knocks down now consistently...who knows. I am very impressed with Duke's talent but less impressed with how they develop it.

 

[bschwartz]

The way I see it is that this weekend, Ms. Williams can hold her trophy at home while KML is playing in the FF. Seems like a good deal.

 

[RealHusky]

I wonder also if there is not a subtle (or perhaps not so subtle) Connecticut award fatigue at work. We certainly have had more than our share of PoY, FoY, MOP awards in the past. Well deserved as they are many voters may treat team affiliation as a tie-breaker. In any event, EW is a fine player and KML is recognized as an important reason the we are in the FF.

 

[Timeout]

Without KML I don't think we make it to the final four. Wonder what would have happen if Williams also came off the bench, who would have had more of an impact in the game. What if Williams came off the bench and KML started. How about by senior year, who is the more valuable player. I'm thinking KML.

 

[Sonny44]

I'd like to see a replay of the two foul shots KML made with her head still spinning.

 

[Blueballer]

Did Debbie Antonelli get all the votes?

 

[rocky rococo]

I think it's fair to say that bothKaleena and Williams fit the needs of their respective teams very well, they get more value than if they had ended up going to reversed schools.

 

[willtalk]

KML is a very good defender who works so well that UConn's NCAA leading defense doesn't lose anything when she enters.

I know that KML is a good defender. But she is not an impact defender like Williams is. Look I am not trying to enter this debate on one side or the other. I just wanted to point out an additional aspect that seemed to have been ignored by the posters. It isn't only about offense.

In my opinion perception seems to make a greater impact on the voters than actual production. Do the voters actually watch a sufficiant enough number of games in order to actually make an intellegent decision? I think most of them are driven purely by hype.

 

[DaddyChoc]

I know that KML is a good defender. But she is not an impact defender like Williams is. Look I am not trying to enter this debate on one side or the other. I just wanted to point out an additional aspect that seemed to have been ignored by the posters. It isn't only about offense.

In my opinion perception seems to make a greater impact on the voters than actual production. Do the voters actually watch a sufficiant enough number of games in order to actually make an intellegent decision? I think most of them are driven purely by hype.

buddy this is the Boneyard... there's no debate about "our girls"


and I do agree about the hype and spreading the wealth!

 

[HuskyNan]

buddy this is the Boneyard... there's no debate about "our girls"

Seems to me there was a polite disagreement and no need for you to intervene. I don't see a need to take a shot at the Boneyard for liking the Huskies' players more than any other team's. If you don't like it here, there are other options.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Seems to me there was a polite disagreement and no need for you to intervene. I don't see a need to take a shot at the Boneyard for liking the Huskies' players more than any other team's. If you don't like it here, there are other options.

very true

 

[willtalk]

Seems to me there was a polite disagreement and no need for you to intervene. I don't see a need to take a shot at the Boneyard for liking the Huskies' players more than any other team's. If you don't like it here, there are other options.

Daddychoc- perhaps debate was a bad choice of words. My only actual opinion was my final paragraph upon which you seem to agree. I honestly don't have any opinion on who should have been the Freshman of the Year , I haven't seen enough games of each player to have a valid opinion. This fits in with my opinion that I don't believe that the media has either. I was only trying to interject a possible rational for the voters choice. So you see Husky Nan -How could I be taking a shot at the Boneyard for prefering a Husky over another teams player. I don't have an opinion. Look I have the utmost respect for the posters on this site. It is filled with the most reasonable and rational conversation among all the WCBB sites on the net. Except for the response to my post- which reeks of some of the hyper reaction one would see one a certain other site. I can't for the life of me see how anyone could percieve my post as being a shot at the Boneyard or even any of the posters on this thread. You are reading something into it that is not there. Unless this is not really about my post on this thread but a reaction to on of my other posts. ? ? ? ?

 

[doggydaddy]

Daddychoc- perhaps debate was a bad choice of words. My only actual opinion was my final paragraph upon which you seem to agree. I honestly don't have any opinion on who should have been the Freshman of the Year , I haven't seen enough games of each player to have a valid opinion. This fits in with my opinion that I don't believe that the media has either. I was only trying to interject a possible rational for the voters choice. So you see Husky Nan -How could I be taking a shot at the Boneyard for prefering a Husky over another teams player. I don't have an opinion. Look I have the utmost respect for the posters on this site. It is filled with the most reasonable and rational conversation among all the WCBB sites on the net. Except for the response to my post- which reeks of some of the hyper reaction one would see one a certain other site. I can't for the life of me see how anyone could percieve my post as being a shot at the Boneyard or even any of the posters on this thread. You are reading something into it that is not there. Unless this is not really about my post on this thread but a reaction to on of my other posts. ? ? ? ?

Nan was talking to Daddychoc about taking a shot at the Boneyard, not you. He does this more than I'd like, personally.

 

[Vowelguy]

I suppose that the little mid-season slump that both KML and Bria experienced was a factor in FoY and the AA selections.

Definitely. That's when I switched my FOY thinking from her to EW.