Inside/Outside Katie Lou Does It All...

[RockyMTblue2]

Beef THIS, Rocky! There is NOBODY in the college game tougher, more fearless, ferocious or exciting (sorry Stewie) than the skinniest, boniest, UNBEEFIEST kid on UConn. And while it's nice to have the tallest or strongest kid on the court, I'll take the one with the Taurasi-like heart and indomitable spirit every time.

Your right. I could never understand her cramping in the NCAA Championship in 2015, cuz she's just skin and bones - no muscle!

 

[Gus Mahler]

Fast and Ferocious #4. Sounds like a winning movie franchise.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Your right. I could never understand her cramping in the NCAA Championship in 2015, cuz she's just skin and bones - no muscle!

Yep, I was suspicious, too. She was faking it- just being her wimpy self and stalling for time to rest her tired, out-of-shape butt. I wasn't fooled.

 

[VAMike23]

I hope she's as rugged as Maya.

A very high bar

 

[UcMiami]

I'm anxious to see her in a game situation. I know she didn't perform well at the McDonald's game but that happens a lot with the elite players. I don't really see her as an EDD but more of an Ann Strother ( 3 point specialist). She really needs to put about 15 pounds on that frame as did Ann. Breanna managed to bulk up the last two years and really had a presence under the basket. It'll be interesting.

She is taller than Ann and I think a better shooter inside and outside the arc, and has already shown in international play the ability to finish at the rim with serious contact. All HS players add muscle as they mature (men and women) and I expect Lou will too, but I think she is already more willing to play through contact than Stewart was as a freshman. As a scorer she eclipsed Kaleena at Mater Dei and owns the school record for three pointers in a season as well as the top two average points scored marks.

 

[DaddyChoc]

geesh KML has been thrown to the wolves already... It's only been 2 months

 

[UcMiami]

geesh KML has been thrown to the wolves already... It's only been 2 months

Not by me, she was and is fabulous! But given what a prolific scorer she was, it is very interesting to me that Lou has surpassed her in some offensive numbers at Mater Dei. And their coach (KML and KLS) in HS said that he hasn't seen a better offensive player than Lou.

 

[DaddyChoc]

How quickly they forget! #coachtalk and depends on the comp, who played against better players etc. even tho a 3 is a 3

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Yep, I was suspicious, too. She was faking it- just being her wimpy self and stalling for time to rest her tired, out-of-shape butt. I wasn't fooled.

But, according to you, she has no butt! Certainly no out-of-shape butt.

 

[Kibitzer]

Get out your torches and pitchforks -- and a vat of tar and a bale of feathers, just to be sure -- because I am about to express a sacrilegious thought: Kia Nurse may lose her status as starting guard to Lou.

Moriah. Stewie and Morgan are as assured of starting roles as LeBron James or Stephen Curry. I can think of 76" reasons that Butler joins those three at the get-go. If this logic is spot-on, it is Kia or Lou on the top of the scorecard when teams tip off.

It might not be Kia. Do I hear a "WOW!" or an "OW!"?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Get out your torches and pitchforks -- and a vat of tar and a bale of feathers, just to be sure -- because I am about to express a sacrilegious thought: Kia Nurse may lose her status as starting guard to Lou.

Moriah. Stewie and Morgan are as assured of starting roles as LeBron James or Stephen Curry. I can think of 76" reasons that Butler joins those three at the get-go. If this logic is spot-on, it is Kia or Lou on the top of the scorecard when teams tip off.

It might not be Kia. Do I hear a "WOW!" or an "OW!"?

A contrarian view, to be sure. I don't see it, because I think Kia is too solid. But I do see Lou playing some SG, as well as wing.

Is this lineup big? Kia, Lou, Morgan, Stewie, Natalie.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Get out your torches and pitchforks -- and a vat of tar and a bale of feathers, just to be sure -- because I am about to express a sacrilegious thought: Kia Nurse may lose her status as starting guard to Lou.

Moriah. Stewie and Morgan are as assured of starting roles as LeBron James or Stephen Curry. I can think of 76" reasons that Butler joins those three at the get-go. If this logic is spot-on, it is Kia or Lou on the top of the scorecard when teams tip off.

It might not be Kia. Do I hear a "WOW!" or an "OW!"?

OMG, you are inviting the dreaded "Geno doesn't start freshman" debate! Please delete your post!!! Please!

On a serious side: neither possibility would surprise me, but I would see the KLS over Kia possibility increasing later in the year. But I would be surprised to have Kia supplanted from the get go, and expect KLS to work her way into the rotation as the season progresses. I don't see her highest and best use being SG either, so when push comes to shove I say NO.

 

[Rixxx]

Get out your torches and pitchforks -- and a vat of tar and a bale of feathers, just to be sure -- because I am about to express a sacrilegious thought: Kia Nurse may lose her status as starting guard to Lou.

Moriah. Stewie and Morgan are as assured of starting roles as LeBron James or Stephen Curry. I can think of 76" reasons that Butler joins those three at the get-go. If this logic is spot-on, it is Kia or Lou on the top of the scorecard when teams tip off.

It might not be Kia. Do I hear a "WOW!" or an "OW!"?

Two things....... Kibit, I want you to know that at times, I can barely get by your avatar to focus on the thread at hand.

Secondly, does anyone believe that Collier will pressure Kia for PT? As I said in a previous thread, I am impressed with Collier.

 

[UcMiami]

On the starting line-up debate - I am pretty sure Kia and Moriah will start all year long. They are both very good and are true guards who will keep the offense flowing. I do think Lou will see some time as a guard next year, but that the three freshman will spend most of their time at the wind/forward positions. Who starts besides Kia and Moriah is a much tougher question - we have one true post player in Butler who has yet to play a minute, but has practiced with the team for a year, and two 4/3 players in Stewart and Tuck who each can fill in at the 5. And three freshman that are very good players that are also primarily 3/4 types. Add in Gabby and it is a bit of a logjam.

 

[caramel]

I am expecting Kia to start,at least for the beginning of the new season.However,I predict that all three new girls will receive plenty of playing time,especially as the year progresses.By tournament time,it may become almost silly,they way the team brings in and out of the lineup,the talent it has.It just might be a complete nightmare for any opposing team.
There should be plenty of rotations,and a variety of different groups on the floor,especially early on.
I am hoping that Ekmark and Williams,have progressed from last year.The team sure will have plenty of fresh legs,and if they do,and it will seem like D Day,for every opponent in every game.
By the end of the regular schedule,this could be one of the best teams to ever wear the jersey,by year.Let us not forget,that Stewart and Jefferson will be on a mission,four in a row.They will be involved,in getting everyone ready to succeed!

 

[Gus Mahler]

Two things.. Kibit, I want you to know that at times, I can barely get by your avatar to focus on the thread at hand.

Secondly, does anyone believe that Collier will pressure Kia for PT? As I said in a previous thread, I am impressed with Collier.

No, but I think she's going to pressure somebody for the 3 spot. I am impressed with her as well--in fact, bedazzled.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Luckily she won't have to be around the basket all that much next year. I'm sure she'll strengthen up over the next couple of years.

Except when she is slipping in there Sith like to finger roll one in!

 

[meyers7]

Get out your torches and pitchforks -- and a vat of tar and a bale of feathers, just to be sure -- because I am about to express a sacrilegious thought: Kia Nurse may lose her status as starting guard to Lou.

Moriah. Stewie and Morgan are as assured of starting roles as LeBron James or Stephen Curry. I can think of 76" reasons that Butler joins those three at the get-go. If this logic is spot-on, it is Kia or Lou on the top of the scorecard when teams tip off.

It might not be Kia. Do I hear a "WOW!" or an "OW!"?

Yea, no that ain't gonna happen. Least I hope not.

On the starting line-up debate - I am pretty sure Kia and Moriah will start all year long. They are both very good and are true guards who will keep the offense flowing. I do think Lou will see some time as a guard next year, but that the three freshman will spend most of their time at the wind/forward positions. Who starts besides Kia and Moriah is a much tougher question - we have one true post player in Butler who has yet to play a minute, but has practiced with the team for a year, and two 4/3 players in Stewart and Tuck who each can fill in at the 5. And three freshman that are very good players that are also primarily 3/4 types. Add in Gabby and it is a bit of a logjam.

Unless there are injuries, (i.e. I hope not), Jefferson, Nurse, Tuck and Stewart start. And will continue to start all year. Who starts with them? There's the question. Butler? Williams? Samuelson? Collier? Not sure which way Geno will go. Probably depend on who impresses in pre-season. Best bets for Butler or Williams due to knowing the system better. But Samuelson and Collier bring an awful lot of talent to the table. Gonna be fun in the this "rising" year.

 

[UcMiami]

Yea, no that ain't gonna happen. Least I hope not.



Unless there are injuries, (i.e. I hope not), Jefferson, Nurse, Tuck and Stewart start. And will continue to start all year. Who starts with them? There's the question. Butler? Williams? Samuelson? Collier? Not sure which way Geno will go. Probably depend on who impresses in pre-season. Best bets for Butler or Williams due to knowing the system better. But Samuelson and Collier bring an awful lot of talent to the table. Gonna be fun in the this "rising" year.

The only reason I might question Stewart and Tuck starting is should Moriah, Kia, and Tuck struggle from behind the arc and Butler impress on the inside - if all of that happened I could see Geno possibly going to a Butler Stewart _____ Jefferson, Nurse line-up where the blank is filled with a hot hand from distance - Ekmark, Samuelson, _____?

Beyond Butler impressing I do not think the rest is likely to occur so I agree. And I wouldn't be too surprised if both Lou and Natalie are playing well, if they alternated starting assignments based on opponent.

If everyone is playing well, this may be the most versatile team since the 1999 - 2001 teams with the veteran players being pushed by the new young guns.

 

[Aluminny69]

Last year at this time, there were threads discussing which of the four incoming freshman might start, and how much playing time each would get. Although those threads are still out there, I can't seem to find them with a search, can anyone help?


BTW, if last year, anyone correctly predicted that Nurse would start, Williams would play significant minutes as a forward, Eckmark would be relegated to the end of the bench, and Edwards would drop out of school, then they definitely would qualify as a basketball GURU, and need to start buying lottery tickets.


That's why they play the games.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Last year at this time, there were threads discussing which of the four incoming freshman might start, and how much playing time each would get. Although those threads are still out there, I can't seem to find them with a search, can anyone help?


BTW, if last year, anyone correctly predicted that Nurse would start, Williams would play significant minutes as a forward, Eckmark would be relegated to the end of the bench, and Edwards would drop out of school, then they definitely would qualify as a basketball GURU, and need to start buying lottery tickets.


That's why they play the games.

I predicted that Nurse would start; Williams would use her athleticism, but in the backcourt; Ekmark would be a stellar 3-point shooter; and Sadie would shine in garbage time. Maybe too optimistic.

 

[UcMiami]

I predicted that Nurse would start; Williams would use her athleticism, but in the backcourt; Ekmark would be a stellar 3-point shooter; and Sadie would shine in garbage time. Maybe too optimistic.

Nah - just the coaching staff let us all down terribly last year!

 

[HGN]

It's defense , or any lack thereof, that will keep KLS from getting PT next season. Her offense will be fine but if she can't stop the other player she will be watching the game from Geno's sight perspective.

Just saying.

 

[willtalk]

I hope Katie Lou puts on a few pounds over the summer. She is to thin and may be pushed around near the basket.

Don't be fooled. She is tougher than she appears. lol. She isn't getting pushed around as much as she is flopping. A tactic for self defense. It gets her a lot of calls especially since she is usually the target for rough play from the opposition. If you remember some months ago I answered some Uconn fans question as to how she compares to KLM. I have seen KLS play a few times and have seen her best and her worst. She is definitely a more complete player than KLM. She has a really good handle. Saw her break a press that the rest of the team was struggling with last year. She does everything well and has a heck of a range. Plus as many have pointed out she is probably 6'3" +
+

 

[meyers7]

The only reason I might question Stewart and Tuck starting is should Moriah, Kia, and Tuck struggle from behind the arc and Butler impress on the inside - if all of that happened I could see Geno possibly going to a Butler Stewart _____ Jefferson, Nurse line-up where the blank is filled with a hot hand from distance - Ekmark, Samuelson, _____?

Beyond Butler impressing I do not think the rest is likely to occur so I agree. And I wouldn't be too surprised if both Lou and Natalie are playing well, if they alternated starting assignments based on opponent.

If everyone is playing well, this may be the most versatile team since the 1999 - 2001 teams with the veteran players being pushed by the new young guns.

I don't question, even for a second, the 4 starters. Stewart, Tuck, Jefferson and Nurse. If no injuries, they'll start. I'll bet your life on it. Also, Tuck is gonna be one of if not "the" captain next year. She's gonna start.

 

[meyers7]

Plus as many have pointed out she is probably 6'3" +
+

Don't even start that stuff on the BY.

 

[Kibitzer]

If you remember some months ago I answered some Uconn fans question as to how she compares to KLM. I have seen KLS play a few times and have seen her best and her worst. She is definitely a more complete player than KLM.

Ahem.

KML (Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis).

KLM is the Belgian airline.

 

[Huskies Rule]

It's defense , or any lack thereof, that will keep KLS from getting PT next season. Her offense will be fine but if she can't stop the other player she will be watching the game from Geno's sight perspective.

Always like your stuff, HGN, and while Geno does put a premium on great defense, Lou will get that part of her game up to speed quickly because as we know, playing defense is all about attitude and desire, and I'm confident Lou has that in spades. All UConn freshmen (even Moriah and Stewie) get plenty of bench time until Geno likes what he sees, but what Lou brings on offense will evoke huge smiles even while her defensive game is a work in progress. You just can't sit Steph Curry.

[The kid was asked to do so much for Mater Dei offensively, she can be forgiven if her 'D' wasn't all-world. But in all fairness to Lou, in all the videos you never get to see her on defense because everyone was enamored by her offense. But she wants to be the best, and she knows that means being great on both ends, and she will be.]

 

[meyers7]

Ahem.

KML (Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis).

KLM is the Belgian airline.

Ahem.
Royal Dutch Airlines.

 

[UcMiami]

It's defense , or any lack thereof, that will keep KLS from getting PT next season. Her offense will be fine but if she can't stop the other player she will be watching the game from Geno's sight perspective.

Just saying.

I am wondering why people seem to be assuming Lou is a terrible defender? She will certainly be a freshman which means she will have a learning curve at Uconn, but ...?
Is it because she is a prolific scorer that everyone assumes she must be lazy on defense?
I expect her to be at least as good defensively as Kaleena was as a freshman, and with her added height to pose more problems defensively than Kaleena did. There may be more competition for Lou as a freshman than there was for Kaleena, and that may impact her playing time, but that is a separate issue.