Ice Brady is the best post since Breanna Stewart

[shiverz45]

There is a phenomena I've noticed over the years. Even as a very athletic and strong 18 year old, I didn't really hit home runs of any distance until I was 25 or so. Your man strength doesn't really kick in until later in life for many people. It seems to kick in earlier for some ( Anessa Morrow for example ). I'm not seeing Anessa Morrow when I see Ice play and I'm not seeing a lot of quickness, which will hurt her defensively. I do see solid offensive skill shooting and some passing ability and a positive team attitude. I'm seeing some skills that have been worked on. It's not going to be easy but the key will be if she senses a need for urgency. She, like Amari, are really nice kids. They need to both find a way to get angry and have a sense of urgency. Real survival skills. I sense that is the key to greatness for them. Geno might be just the guy to inspire that. It may not be pleasant but it might be key to either having any chance at the WNBA. Quickness and intensity are important. Somehow, Charles Barkley became a great NBA player even without a lot of quickness or leaping ability. Strength and bulk need to be utilized to an advantage.

You are wrong about Charles Barkley. He was quick and had about a 40" vertical leap. He was only 6"4 but his leaping ablility and bulk allowed him to rebound with the best of them.

 

[JellyBean]

My all time favorite post player at UConn and she doesn't get a lot of credit, was Kelly Schumacher aka Schuey!! Top Shelf player.

 

[Teacherdeb]

My all time favorite post player at UConn and she doesn't get a lot of credit, was Kelly Schumacher aka Schuey!! Top Shelf player.

Her game against Tennessee…

 

[TeamFirst!]

Quickness is relative right? Was Barkley quick compared to other 6" 4" players in general? I would think not as most of them were guards right? I just looked up what Barkeley weighed when he came into the league:

Search; "How much did Charles Barkley weigh when he came into the NBA?":

5 pick in the draft,” he said. “I left college after three years and in fairness, I was fat in college. I played at 300 pounds. “The Sixers called me a month before the draft and said, 'We want you to get down to 285 pounds and come in before the draft.Mar 23, 2022".

I'm aware that Barkley was a great player, which was my point overall. Somehow he became great. Hopefully Ice can become great as well. I think he was a great rebounder for a variety of reasons. Apparently he was quick for a big guy and could jump. He was also strong. He blocked out well. He was aggressive. You don't have to have every attribute to be a good rebounder but Ice should have at least several of these attributes and develop the ability to rebound well.

 

[Skeets]

Braids, we’re all bored here. Most of us are excited about the coming season and the anticipated play and success of our newbies and Aubrey. This is a dead period of the year for WCBB. This is a rest, recover and relax period for our players also. They need this down time to rehab and heal from nicks and injuries sustained during the season. November will be here before you know it. They can’t be expected to entertain us 12 months a year. Hang in there.

Knowing one, reading your post the first thought that came to me was the UConn players need to get healthy physically, and the BY people need to get healthy mentally (please note the smiley)

 

[hard2please]

ice is nice, but lets think twice.

 

[JordyG]

There is a phenomena I've noticed over the years. Even as a very athletic and strong 18 year old, I didn't really hit home runs of any distance until I was 25 or so. Your man strength doesn't really kick in until later in life for many people. It seems to kick in earlier for some ( Anessa Morrow for example ). I'm not seeing Anessa Morrow when I see Ice play and I'm not seeing a lot of quickness, which will hurt her defensively. I do see solid offensive skill shooting and some passing ability and a positive team attitude. I'm seeing some skills that have been worked on. It's not going to be easy but the key will be if she senses a need for urgency. She, like Amari, are really nice kids. They need to both find a way to get angry and have a sense of urgency. Real survival skills. I sense that is the key to greatness for them. Geno might be just the guy to inspire that. It may not be pleasant but it might be key to either having any chance at the WNBA. Quickness and intensity are important. Somehow, Charles Barkley became a great NBA player even without a lot of quickness or leaping ability. Strength and bulk need to be utilized to an advantage.

I disagree. Although small for his position, Charles in his prime was a rim rocker with terrific speed on the break, agility, and athleticism. He made a living on the boards, and his ability to quickly get off of his feet like a pogo stick on put backs was his strength. Watch the videos and decide for yourself.

 

[oldude]

Quickness is relative right? Was Barkley quick compared to other 6" 4" players in general? I would think not as most of them were guards right? I just looked up what Barkeley weighed when he came into the league:

Search; "How much did Charles Barkley weigh when he came into the NBA?":

5 pick in the draft,” he said. “I left college after three years and in fairness, I was fat in college. I played at 300 pounds. “The Sixers called me a month before the draft and said, 'We want you to get down to 285 pounds and come in before the draft.Mar 23, 2022".

I'm aware that Barkley was a great player, which was my point overall. Somehow he became great. Hopefully Ice can become great as well. I think he was a great rebounder for a variety of reasons. Apparently he was quick for a big guy and could jump. He was also strong. He blocked out well. He was aggressive. You don't have to have every attribute to be a good rebounder but Ice should have at least several of these attributes and develop the ability to rebound well.

Yes, quickness is relative. Barkley was a 6’6” forward, not a 6’4” guard. As a forward in the NBA, he was plenty quick.

 

[HuskyNan]

Quickness is relative right? Was Barkley quick compared to other 6" 4" players in general? I would think not as most of them were guards right? I just looked up what Barkeley weighed when he came into the league:

Search; "How much did Charles Barkley weigh when he came into the NBA?":

5 pick in the draft,” he said. “I left college after three years and in fairness, I was fat in college. I played at 300 pounds. “The Sixers called me a month before the draft and said, 'We want you to get down to 285 pounds and come in before the draft.Mar 23, 2022".

Hence his nickname- The Round Mound of Rebound. It didn’t slow him down

 

[Cuango]

I disagree. Although small for his position, Charles in his prime was a rim rocker with terrific speed on the break, agility, and athleticism. He made a living on the boards, and his ability to quickly get off of his feet like a pogo stick on put backs was his strength. Watch the videos and decide for yourself.

Agreed! Sir Charles was a badass on the basketball court who admits that one of the main reasons he was able to become a great player was because Moses Malone confronted him and bluntly told him he was fat and lazy. He took those words to heart and now is in the Hall of Fame!

 

[BobbyJ]

Quickness is relative right? Was Barkley quick compared to other 6" 4" players in general? I would think not as most of them were guards right? I just looked up what Barkeley weighed when he came into the league:

Search; "How much did Charles Barkley weigh when he came into the NBA?":

5 pick in the draft,” he said. “I left college after three years and in fairness, I was fat in college. I played at 300 pounds. “The Sixers called me a month before the draft and said, 'We want you to get down to 285 pounds and come in before the draft.Mar 23, 2022".

I'm aware that Barkley was a great player, which was my point overall. Somehow he became great. Hopefully Ice can become great as well. I think he was a great rebounder for a variety of reasons. Apparently he was quick for a big guy and could jump. He was also strong. He blocked out well. He was aggressive. You don't have to have every attribute to be a good rebounder but Ice should have at least several of these attributes and develop the ability to rebound well.

Good job of contradicting yourself. In post #9 you said " Somehow, Charles Barkley became a great NBA player even without a lot of quickness or leaping ability." It's obvious that you followed him very closely.

 

[JordyG]

All this said, I'd be ecstatic if Ice has a career equivalent to Charles'. More than ecstatic. In his prime though Sir Charles was lethal in the open court. Here's hoping.

 

[TeamFirst!]

I've seen Barkley described as quick and fast online but I'm not buying it. Quick for a big bulky guy maybe. I was surprised to see his vertical leap at 39" so that is definitive and I stand corrected on that. The bottom line of my point though is that even relatively short bulky players can often be great rebounders and Barkley is an obvious example of that. Wes Unseld and others. He was reputed to be closer to 6' 4" than 6" 6" but was listed as 6' 6". I think strength is an important rebounding attribute. Look at how many players are tall and get their hands on the ball but somehow lose the rebound to a stronger player. Quick reflexes are different than quick foot speed right? Quick reflexes are possibly more important than foot speed for rebounding. It's like getting a jump on a baseball in Center field. Some players are much better at it than others. There are lots of factors in becoming a good rebounder. Effort, intensity, commitment, blocking out, positioning...lots of factors.

 

[eebmg]

Start small with an Ice Sculpture. Then we can get to Mt. Rushmore.

 

[cancontent]

I've seen Barkley described as quick and fast online but I'm not buying it. Quick for a big bulky guy maybe. I was surprised to see his vertical leap at 39" so that is definitive and I stand corrected on that. The bottom line of my point though is that even relatively short bulky players can often be great rebounders and Barkley is an obvious example of that. Wes Unseld and others. He was reputed to be closer to 6' 4" than 6" 6" but was listed as 6' 6". I think strength is an important rebounding attribute. Look at how many players are tall and get their hands on the ball but somehow lose the rebound to a stronger player. Quick reflexes are different than quick foot speed right? Quick reflexes are possibly more important than foot speed for rebounding. It's like getting a jump on a baseball in Center field. Some players are much better at it than others. There are lots of factors in becoming a good rebounder. Effort, intensity, commitment, blocking out, positioning...lots of factors.

Question is whether you saw any of his games. I'm not sure based on your posts.

I watched a lot of his games in the NBA with Philly and Phoenix. He was very quick for the forward position. If you haven't seen footage, like some others have suggested, go watch his games.

 

[HuskyNan]

Barkley may not have had blazing speed in the open court but he could turn it on when he chose. I guess I’d call him sneaky fast because he didn’t look like he should get up the floor that quickly and his size fooled people into thinking he was slower than he was. A tank going 60 mph looks slower than a Porsche going 60. But, man, he was quick around the basket.

 

[Bone Dog]

We used to call that having a quick first step. The third and fourth steps don’t matter so much once he’s got the defender on his back. This is what folks were hoping for from Zion Williamson, big and quick, similar dimensions to Barkley. Injuries may have cost him that first step too soon.

 

[oldude]

We used to call that having a quick first step. The third and fourth steps don’t matter so much once he’s got the defender on his back. This is what folks were hoping for from Zion Williamson, big and quick, similar dimensions to Barkley. Injuries may have cost him that first step too soon.

One major difference between Barkley & Williamson. Barkley got himself into great shape once he made it to the NBA. Williamson went in the opposite direction. Supposedly, Williamson has worked hard to get his weight down recently. We’ll see.

 

[UHF]

Before I even say it, here's who isn't the best post since Breanna:

Azura Stevens - 6'6 but didn't stay long enough or play in the post long enough
Napheesa Collier- 6'1 and frame limited her
Gabby Williams - she was 5'11 but great
Kiah Stokes - she was prior to Breanna
Aaliyah Edwards - Sophomore season was under a witch's spell
Olivia Nelson-Ododa - Defensively better but limited in paint production because everything else she had to

Ice Brady will be that girl. She's 6'3, one inch taller but just as wide as Tuck, with a nice jumper and who's coming off an Olympic summer. She can pass from high, bang down low, make mid-range jumpers/open 3's and will draw a lot of fouls. Geno's going to use her like a chess piece just like Breanna.

No discredit to Dorka, Aaliyah or Amari. But Ice Brady in the paint looks scarier than anyone else on the roster

Gabby was the Jack of All Trades at UConn.

Let us revisit this thread in 4 years. Assuming that Ice Brady plays 4 years at UConn.

/Thread

 

[MilfordHusky]

Hence his nickname- The Round Mound of Rebound. It didn’t slow him down

I recall seeing highlights of an Auburn game on TV many years ago. Neither the announcers nor I could believe what we were seeing: a really big, but not especially tall, guy rebounding the ball off the rim and dribbling the length of the floor through the entire defense to dunk the ball. He didn't look like a great player, but he sure played like one.

 

[WFFL]

Before I even say it, here's who isn't the best post since Breanna:

Azura Stevens - 6'6 but didn't stay long enough or play in the post long enough
Napheesa Collier- 6'1 and frame limited her
Gabby Williams - she was 5'11 but great
Kiah Stokes - she was prior to Breanna
Aaliyah Edwards - Sophomore season was under a witch's spell
Olivia Nelson-Ododa - Defensively better but limited in paint production because everything else she had to

Ice Brady will be that girl. She's 6'3, one inch taller but just as wide as Tuck, with a nice jumper and who's coming off an Olympic summer. She can pass from high, bang down low, make mid-range jumpers/open 3's and will draw a lot of fouls. Geno's going to use her like a chess piece just like Breanna.

No discredit to Dorka, Aaliyah or Amari. But Ice Brady in the paint looks scarier than anyone else on the roster

Not just as wide LOL

 

[TCC Kid]

Before I even say it, here's who isn't the best post since Breanna:

Azura Stevens - 6'6 but didn't stay long enough or play in the post long enough
Napheesa Collier- 6'1 and frame limited her
Gabby Williams - she was 5'11 but great
Kiah Stokes - she was prior to Breanna
Aaliyah Edwards - Sophomore season was under a witch's spell
Olivia Nelson-Ododa - Defensively better but limited in paint production because everything else she had to

Ice Brady will be that girl. She's 6'3, one inch taller but just as wide as Tuck, with a nice jumper and who's coming off an Olympic summer. She can pass from high, bang down low, make mid-range jumpers/open 3's and will draw a lot of fouls. Geno's going to use her like a chess piece just like Breanna.

No discredit to Dorka, Aaliyah or Amari. But Ice Brady in the paint looks scarier than anyone else on the roster

I hope you are right but Breanna was a power forward, Stokes was a Center and a darn good, nearly among the great defensive centers. She was a stopper. Breanna was an all around superb player, but truly a power forward. If Ice can really do most of what Breanna did, Uconn is in its best position for the NC it has been in for a long long time.

 

[Bone Dog]

I don't think Stewie is the right comparison for Ice -- or for anyone for that matter. She was practically 7' tall, and had the speed of a guard, and was a true rim protector. Steph was, too. But the others, awesome as they were, benefitted greatly from the fact that Stewie and her long arms stood next to them. It's all about context.

I don't expect Ice to do what Stewie did -- that's not reasonable. But she's strong and tenacious, quick with an outlet pass, and knows how to score inside and out. We've had lots of bigs who were able to turn those virtues into greatness. With Dorka (or even Amari) standing next to her, she'll be formidable. And with Aaliyah next to her, the two of them will be daunting. Fold Ayanna into that mix and oh my! Other teams typically don't want to encounter that much physicality in the lane. It can wear their bigs out. I think that's what happened to Indiana in the Sweet sixteen, and that was just Aaliyah, Olivia and Dorka.

 

[TCC Kid]

Agreed. I don't understand how you can compare a player that has not played a game for UConn or at the elite college level yet to one that played 4 seasons. If you must compare players which I dislike doing, at least use comparable stats.

I'm happy with Brady being who she is, and being the best Isuneh Brady she can be WITHOUT being compared to players that preceded her. It's hard enough to play at UConn without constantly being compared to others. That's extra pressure that does not benefit anyone.

Stewart played in 152 games at UConn. Brady has played ZERO. If one must compare the two, how about we wait until brady has completed her college career then compare their respective stats? Is that fair? I'm the UNOFFICIAL seer of the yard, and even I can't see THAT FAR into the future. I'm excited about the chance to watch her play, grow and mature over the next 4 years. I think we're going to like what we see. Not to pee in the OP's Kool-Aid, but I think his post is a bit pre-mature.

I agree with each word you write. I do hope ICE is the "second coming" of any great player, we need that. i'm the original "wait and see". I've seen too many "over" hyped newbies that fell on their rear ends and never met the hype. No knock on the kids, they are what they are. Some for the near 40 years Geno has been coaching and I've been watching--that happens regularly. The truly great can be counted on one hand with fingers left over, We have been blessed with enough really really good player counted on fingers, toes, and an ear or two. Personally, I love the great and near greats but my entire heart and body follow the Sue Birds, Rene's, Maria', right up to the Caroline D.'s and Azzi's. I do hope ICE is another.
c

 

[TCC Kid]

You underestimate Barkley’s athleticism because of his build. Barkley was exceptionally quick off the floor around the basket and he posessed excellent athleticism. He was too strong for small forwards and too quick for big forwards. Let’s hope that Ice presents a similar dilemma for opposing players.

In the 60's on the Men's side, Uconn played a team, more often than I liked, with a "center' too short, too slow, but rebounded and scored with unbelievable ease. I wish the memory could pull up that name. He proved you don't have to look like a player to be effective. This guy presented problems for every team in the old Yankee Conf.

 

[TCC Kid]

We will see where Ice ends up in the pantheon of great UConn post players. One thing I am certain of is, like all freshmen, Ice will have her ups and downs at UConn as she learns to practice and play up to the incredibly high standards that Geno demands.

In all likelihood Ice will be very good. But I can predict that at some point, early in the season, some folks here on the BY will be lamenting their belief that Ice isn’t as good as everyone thought, following a less than stellar performance.

Let’s moderate our expectations on Ice, at least until she plays her first game at UConn…..

Being a freshman or soph doesn't guarantee ups and downs. Senior have been known to go through slumps that also affects Pro's. We've had more kids like Caroline than not. Caroline, was lucky, she missed the Freshman "training teaching moment" because without her it would have been a longer year. In that way she is the exception.
I do hope ICE is another exception, that too is not guaranteed.

 

[Carnac]

I agree with each word you write. I do hope ICE is the "second coming" of any great player, we need that. i'm the original "wait and see". I've seen too many "over" hyped newbies that fell on their rear ends and never met the hype. No knock on the kids, they are what they are. Some for the near 40 years Geno has been coaching and I've been watching--that happens regularly. The truly great can be counted on one hand with fingers left over, We have been blessed with enough really really good player counted on fingers, toes, and an ear or two. Personally, I love the great and near greats but my entire heart and body follow the Sue Birds, Rene's, Maria', right up to the Caroline D.'s and Azzi's. I do hope ICE is another.
c

Isuneh Brady can be great (and I believe she will be as she grows and matures) without being compared with anyone. Different player, different era, different teammates. The staff MUST hone and and perfect her skills so that they blend in and mesh with her current teammates.

After all, those are the players she's on the floor with. I hope Brady and Patterson focus and concentrate on being the best players they can be, being true to themselves and playing within their skills and abilities. In other words......."Do you". Be you!!!

They don't need to be compared to anyone else. They both have the potential of being great players just being who they are. They will be under enough scrutiny and pressure without any additional "comparisons" or expectations from fans or media. I hope they both adopt the thought that Sammy Davis Jr. sang about in his version of "I gotta be me"

 

[UHF]

My all time favorite post player at UConn and she doesn't get a lot of credit, was Kelly Schumacher aka Schuey!! Top Shelf player.

Volleyball career after UConn and WNBA.

 

[UHF]

Isuneh Brady can be great (and I believe she will be as she grows and matures) without being compared with anyone. Different player, different era, different teammates. The staff MUST hone and and perfect her skills so that they blend in and mesh with her current teammates.

After all, those are the players she's on the floor with. I hope Brady and Patterson focus and concentrate on being the best players they can be, being true to themselves and playing within their skills and abilities. In other words......."Do you". Be you!!!

They don't need to be compared to anyone else. They both have the potential of being great players just being who they are. They will be under enough scrutiny and pressure without any additional "comparisons" or expectations from fans or media. I hope they both adopt the thought that Sammy Davis Jr. sang about in his version of "I gotta be me"

Off season is early April thru early November. During those 7 months :

20% of BY threads are "who will start".
20% of BY threads are "comparisons".
20% of BY threads are "OT Songs".

Do you really want to eliminate 20% of BY threads?

 

[HuskyNan]

Off season is early April thru early November. During those 7 months :

20% of BY threads are "who will start".
20% of BY threads are "comparisons".
20% of BY threads are "OT Songs".

Do you really want to eliminate 20% of BY threads?

40% on minutes distribution.