How does Paige's season compare to the best freshman seasons in WCBB?

[eebmg]

Article in the athletic listing the 6 best Freshman seasons in WCBB history. Lots of details in the article not given because of paywall​

Ranking the best freshman seasons in women's CBB history ... and the Paige Bueckers question

Paige Bueckers' fast start has raised questions about where her freshman season will fall among the greatest. Here's what she's up against.

theathletic.com

​

Paige Bueckers, UConn | 2020-2021​

21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals​

​

1. Cheryl Miller, USC | 1982-83​

20.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.5 SPG, 2.4 BPG

2. Tamika Catchings, Tennessee | 1997-98​

18.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.6 BPG

3. Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee | 1995-96​

16.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG

4. Maya Moore, UConn | 2007-08​

17.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.1 SPG

5. Courtney Paris, Oklahoma | 2005-06​

21.9 PPG, 15 RPG, 3.3 BPG, 1.7 APG

6. Katie Smith, Ohio State | 1992-93​

18.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG

 

[Happydad745]

Paige is already freshman of the year and probably an All-American...I hope all this early glory does not change her too much.

 

[eebmg]

I think Team Performance was a criterion.

 

[MilfordHusky]

It's strange that Catch's scoring went down after her freshman year. That was her Tennessee peak. I wouldn't have guessed that.

 

[Vowelguy]

#1 - 3 all won NCs

I would probably put CH above TC just because that 98 TN had a lot more talent.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Some others that might deserve some consideration--Candace Parker, Candice Wiggins, Nicole Powell.

 

[BostonBay]

Paige is already freshman of the year and probably an All-American...I hope all this early glory does not change her too much.

She also should be Player of the Year based on merit if the vote happened today. I hope they dont take that away from her because she's a freshman.

 

[my2cents]

Numbers are great but they don't measure how clutch Paige has been so far.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Article in the athletic listing the 6 best Freshman seasons in WCBB history. Lots of details in the article not given because of paywall​

Ranking the best freshman seasons in women's CBB history ... and the Paige Bueckers question

Paige Bueckers' fast start has raised questions about where her freshman season will fall among the greatest. Here's what she's up against.

theathletic.com

​

Paige Bueckers, UConn | 2020-2021​

21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals​

​

1. Cheryl Miller, USC | 1982-83​

20.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.5 SPG, 2.4 BPG

2. Tamika Catchings, Tennessee | 1997-98​

18.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.6 BPG

3. Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee | 1995-96​

16.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG

4. Maya Moore, UConn | 2007-08​

17.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.1 SPG

5. Courtney Paris, Oklahoma | 2005-06​

21.9 PPG, 15 RPG, 3.3 BPG, 1.7 APG

6. Katie Smith, Ohio State | 1992-93​

18.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG

Awesome list! How come Courtney Paris didn't do much in the WNBA.
Highly recommend- HBO documentary- "Women of Troy". Cheryl Miller, what a sensation! A bit bittersweet, because she wasn't able to have a huge professional basketball life because of weak to no leagues and injuries.

 

[Gurleyman]

Numbers are great but they don't measure how clutch Paige has been so far.

But these do!

 

[eebmg]

But these do!

What a stat

 

[chrissaran]

No Jackie Stiles or Kelsey Plum? Imagine they must have had pretty decent freshman seasons.

 

[nwhoopfan]

No Jackie Stiles or Kelsey Plum? Imagine they must have had pretty decent freshman seasons.

I'm biased of course, but I didn't throw Plum's name into the conversation because UW was jut getting back to respectability then, and her shooting numbers weren't real efficient. She was definitely a 20 ppg scorer right out of the chute though. They did manage to hand Stanford their only conference loss that year, Card were ranked #3 at the time. That was a pretty big upset, and Plum had a really good game.

 

[bballnut90]

It's strange that Catch's scoring went down after her freshman year. That was her Tennessee peak. I wouldn't have guessed that.

She thrived in a Robin role to Holdsclaw's Batman. Tennessee her freshman season was a run and gun, full court press type of team and she thrived on getting steals and easy buckets, hence the higher percentages and points. Playing in Holdsclaw's shadow too afforded her better looks her first 2 years. She did very well in a go to role as an upperclassman but overall the Tennessee teams of her junior/season year had a lot more depth which watered down numbers. Still won most POY awards as a junior and would've been in the mix her senior year if not for the ACL.

 

[JordyG]

But these do!

Video game numbers.

 

[bballnut90]

#1 - 3 all won NCs

I would probably put CH above TC just because that 98 TN had a lot more talent.

100%. Holdsclaw was the go to player on that Tennessee championship team similar to how Miller was at USC and how Paige is to UCONN this year. Catchings had higher numbers but that was a product of the team playing at a faster pace, with more talented teammates and playing more efficiently. Holdsclaw carried her team as a freshman where Catchings didn't, so I'd rank Holdsclaw above Catch. Miller deservedly is #1. Moore would've been my #1 or #2 overall had she led her team to the title as a frosh. If Bueckers leads UCONN to a title, she'll be either #1 or #2 in my book. Probably number one considering she's carrying such a massive load now but if they don't win, it's probably #3 or #4.

 

[bballnut90]

No Jackie Stiles or Kelsey Plum? Imagine they must have had pretty decent freshman seasons.

Not a chance either should be mentioned. Players can score a lot of points but if they don't make the team dramatically better, they don't deserve to be on all time lists. Both led their programs to greatness as upperclassmen, but their teams weren't significantly improved compared to the year before they came.

 

[bballnut90]

Article in the athletic listing the 6 best Freshman seasons in WCBB history. Lots of details in the article not given because of paywall​

Ranking the best freshman seasons in women's CBB history ... and the Paige Bueckers question

Paige Bueckers' fast start has raised questions about where her freshman season will fall among the greatest. Here's what she's up against.

theathletic.com

​

Paige Bueckers, UConn | 2020-2021​

21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals​

​

1. Cheryl Miller, USC | 1982-83​

20.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.5 SPG, 2.4 BPG

2. Tamika Catchings, Tennessee | 1997-98​

18.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.7 SPG, 1.6 BPG

3. Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee | 1995-96​

16.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG

4. Maya Moore, UConn | 2007-08​

17.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.1 SPG

5. Courtney Paris, Oklahoma | 2005-06​

21.9 PPG, 15 RPG, 3.3 BPG, 1.7 APG

6. Katie Smith, Ohio State | 1992-93​

18.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.3 APG

I think they got this list pretty spot on but I'd put Candace Parker on here somewhere, though she was a RS freshman which is why she may not have been included. Parker, Moore, Holdsclaw and Bueckers are the 4 most polished and skilled freshman I've seen enter the collegiate ranks.

Other names of big standout freshmen include Alana Beard, Brittney Griner, Candice Wiggins, and Kelsey Mitchell. Could make a strong argument too for Stewart and Clarissa Davis based on winning titles and F4 MOP as freshmen.

 

[chrissaran]

I'm biased of course, but I didn't throw Plum's name into the conversation because UW was jut getting back to respectability then, and her shooting numbers weren't real efficient. She was definitely a 20 ppg scorer right out of the chute though. They did manage to hand Stanford their only conference loss that year, Card were ranked #3 at the time. That was a pretty big upset, and Plum had a really good game.

Looked up Kelsey and Jackie, and their freshman seasons were good, but not spectacular.

 

[DefenseBB]

These stats are great but a bit incomplete as Turnovers should be shown as should FGA and shooting percentages to gain insight into efficiency. Clark takes significantly more shots than Paige and has significantly more turnover than Paige (and is still have one of the top FRESHMAN years of ALL-TIME). I would be curious to these other players Turnovers and shooting percentages as I doubt they are as efficient.

 

[eebmg]

She definitely had her best game but at least some part wasNeb's non aggressive / sagging defense. The let her see the court and take uncontested 3 pointers although to be fair, some were from 30' I liked the way Indiana got up into her, forced her to drive and then selectively double by directing her into the middle. Of course, IN had some really good athletic and tough guards.

She also has a very fiery temperament (calls, teammate miscues etc) that can get her sped up into TO's or taking harder and harder shots . Yesterday, she was really confident and mostly under control

 

[Skeets]

But these do!

This is cherry picking numbers, but it's a real nice cherry