Is Nika Maria Conlon redux ?

[Vowelguy]

You're all wrong. Clearly Nika is the new Kara Wolters.

 

[dtbtbtb]

The crazy thing with Nika is that in the beginning of the season she looked like a waste of a scholarship (confused, can't make a simple lay-up, can't shoot, can't guard anyone) and look at her now. She deserves to start every game for the rest of her career. She bring s so much to the game with her energy, defense, shooting when she should be shooting, and most important taking the load of ball handling from Paige which makes Paige the most leathal weapon in WBB.

 

[diggerfoot]

Then I definitely disagree with you. It was just a matter of time before Muhl earned a starting spot. This wasn't a Pipp.

That's easy to say in hindsight. Muhl did not get a start until both Makurat and Bueckers were out with injuries. She had not played well up until then and was not great during her first start against a bad Georgetown team either. But that first start started giving her abundant game minutes to acclimate. That's all she needed.

If Makurat was not out indefinitely, then Muhl would have continued only getting limited game minutes. Would she still have progressed the same way and bust through the starting line-up before the year was over? Perhaps, but certainly not a given for this year. I assume that's what you meant, for this year. If not, then the golden opportunity that happened for Muhl this year does not apply.

 

[mbr33ct]

If I would to ask A'ja Wilson, she would probably say, "let Nika...be Nika"

 

[Zorro]

It is unfortunate that all a lot of fans seem to remember about Maria is that 1) she was a pretty good 3 point shooter and 2) she was short and slow. As I recall, she was also one helluva passer and extremely savvy and unflappable. Just wanted to get that in.

 

[Sargassoc]

It is unfortunate that all a lot of fans seem to remember about Maria is that 1) she was a pretty good 3 point shooter and 2) she was short and slow. As I recall, she was also one helluva passer and extremely savvy and unflappable. Just wanted to get that in.

And she was the one who took the free throws for any technical fouls. That speaks to both her ability to make the shot and her ability to handle the pressure of having to do so.

 

[Vowelguy]

The idea that Nika has come out of nowhere in the past 2 weeks is hogwash. Last fall Geno said that AE and Nika were both playing like upperclassmen in practice. He has known what she is capable of for some time.

yes she got off to a slow start. Let’s see season delayed by several weeks bc of CV, injury, and yes oh my gosh maybe some nerves.

 

[Waquoit]

If Makurat was not out indefinitely, then Muhl would have continued only getting limited game minutes.

I cannot disagree with this more. The cream would have risen. She had a late start due to the foot injury.

 

[BBallF]

Jen Renzotti has been my comparison. I love the intensity. She will soon be the UConn player that opposing fans love to hate.

Three weeks ago I would have scoffed at the comparison but now I think is right on the money.

 

[chrissaran]

More recent comparison with Kelly Faris I like. Nika has a much better offensive game.

 

[hoopingcrane]

Maria was a very good shooter, opened up the court and played well under pressure. The things Geno said were said after she became a starter and in the same vein as Rebecca being the worst center in America.

 

[Vowelguy]

You're all wrong. Clearly Nika is the new Lorin Dixon.

 

[stamfordhusky]

No. Conlon could shoot from outside, but I think Muhl is already a better all-around player.

Nika a better dribbler and playmaker and also a better defender. But not as good an outside shooter.

 

[JRRRJ]

Competent, steady. Brings it every game. A perfect complement to Paige.

Nika is faster and might be a better defender (I don't recall Maria's defense).

No.

Strongly influenced by having seen the Jan '95 UC-TN game recently, I claim that her play strongly resembles that of Ms. Rizzoti.

 

[psconn]

No matter who she brings to mind, she brings the intensity.

 

[psconn]

Gotta get Nika to go with the old-school kneepads.

 

[cbraarj]

Competent, steady. Brings it every game. A perfect complement to Paige.

Nika is faster and might be a better defender (I don't recall Maria's defense).

No way

 

[diggerfoot]

I cannot disagree with this more. The cream would have risen. She had a late start due to the foot injury.

"I cannot disagree with this more" in reference to a golden opportunity is such an emphatic/dogmatic statement I wonder if we are projecting two different things. I agree that the cream would have risen and before the year was over Muhl's ability would have been evident. But would she have cracked the starting line-up without a golden opportunity? That necessarily means that her fate was within her control alone.

Muhl was never going to take ONO's, Bueckers or Westbrook's spot in the starting line-up. Those are givens. If Makurat performed like she did towards the end of last year Muhl would not be usurping that spot. The offense still ran well with Makurat in there, besides the fact that we now know that, like Muhl, Makurat was dealing with an injury, only Makurat's is worse. An uninjured Makurat performing like the end of last year was not going to lose her starting spot to a freshman. The fact that she did not perform as well and had an injury was an opportunity to fast track Muhl as a starter.

If Williams plays up to her potential there is no way she loses her starting spot. Even though she is erratic that spot still appears safe even now. If it's not safe, that's still an opportunity that is not within Muhl's control. So we are talking about only one starting spot really available.

We then have to factor in Edwards and Griffin, who received opportunities to start before Muhl. Had Griffin not been injured after Bueckers came back would that fifth spot been open to Muhl? That injury was not within Muhl's control.

Maybe I am wrong but I interpret a statement like "I could not disagree more" to mean that what happens to others is irrelevant, Muhl was going to crack the starting line-up even without injuries and/or erratic play from four other players. You can say that about Bueckers. I think such a claim about Muhl requires a little more humility.

 

[oldhusky]

When all is said and done nika will be much closer to Jen R than Maria. Her shot will improve and she is a bulldog.

I agree. CD sees her far more than any of us in practice and she made the Jennifer Rizzotti comparison. Probably not that good, I get it, but when we already have a pretty good comparison regarding her traits, why do we have to find some other player to compare that has little in common with Nika. The best comparison has already been made. I'm sure CD is not elevating Nika to JR's level, rather she is implying that she sees many similar traits in her. I don't think Maria or Molly remind me of Nika at all.

 

[EricLA]

No.

Strongly influenced by having seen the Jan '95 UC-TN game recently, I claim that her play strongly resembles that of Ms. Rizzoti.

What a great comparison. I do not recall Jen as a freshman.

 

[Vowelguy]

If Makurat performed like

If Williams plays

Had Griffin not been injured

if, if, if

If Rizzotti were on this team, Nika would not have started.
If CW, AM, and EW replicated the Harlem Globetrotters, Nika would not have started.
If this were 2002, Nika would not have started. Neither would Paige.

I dont understand how all these IFs prove any particular point.

And this of course leaves aside the issue of whether starting is important. It's not. If a player plays well in practice, she will get playing time. Nika did that in the fall as Geno noted. Then she was injured.

 

[diggerfoot]

I dont understand how all these IFs prove any particular point.

I know from previous topics that there is something about me that rubs you the wrong way and goes beyond rational discussion, so I’ll pass on explaining.

 

[fomalhaut]

Geez...a couple of weeks ago she was Molly Bent according to some of the posters. I think she has a huge upside as a passer and should continue to improve as an outside shooter and defender. I'd be amazed if she doesn't surpass Conlon's statistical numbers.

 

[Dokey]

How about liking Nika for being...well, Nika?

 

[huskeynut]

I get why posters have to compare Nika to past players/ stars. I just don't see it as worth all this effort.

Let Nika be Nika. She's tough, scrappy and a royal pain in the butt on defense. She can dish just as well as Paige. She'll pick your pocket for a steal and crash the boards for a rebound. She brings the ball up the court like a heat seeking missile. The purpose is to get the ball in the hoop with the assist and/ or the score. She is relentless. She has no fear. And she's Paige's sister and running mate!!!!!!!!

She may have a little bit of several former greats in her. But she's Nika. And I don't see her coming out of the starting lineup.