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Message: [QUOTE="#12in21, post: 4598784, member: 10763"] Geno has always said, 'we want our players to do best, what they do best, we don't ask them to be a player they aren't' (paraphrase). Specially he has said repeatedly, 'we just need Nika to be Nika'. It shouldn't surprise anyone that Nika is not offensively comparable to point guards that's emphasis is as scorers. You called out Kiki's lower turnover numbers, but it's worth noting that her a/to rate was 1.82 and Nika's was 2.24, which gives that difference some perspective. So did Nika have a great year doing what she does best this past season? The answer is, clearly yes. She repeated as BE DPOY even though she had to play much more conservatively on that end to avoid foul trouble and to remain on the floor ( more minutes than any other player on the team). She also garnered three career assist records, most assists in a game, most assists in a season and the most double digit assist games in a season (shattering the last two's previous marks). Beyond that she almost doubled her pts/gm, increased reb/gm, significantly increased fta & ftm/gm. Lastly she always has been vocal and a huge energy player for the team but this season she stepped that up and assumed the role of the team leader, as repeatedly acknowledged by her teammates and coaches. Not bad for a kid who had to step it up in countless ways when Paige (the best wccb player in the country) went down for the season. She didn't shrink away from any of the challenges that were thrust upon her, she embraced them. Freshman season Nika and Paige played exceptionally well together, two excellent ball handlers and passers with great court vision that wanted to raise the games of their teammates. They complimented each other and had offsetting additional skillsets, Paige an offensive juggernaut and Nika a tenacious defender. Next season, I fully expect that, they will each contribute tremendously in what will be an exceptional year for Uconn wcbb. So yes, I expect to see Paige, Nika and Azzi as our starting backcourt, Aaliyah the foundation of our front court, surrounded with an exceptional diversely talented roster that will make Uconn wcbb once again [I]Bad for Basketball. [/I] [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach