Is Stefanie Dolson still "under appreciated"...??

[OneTrickPony]

I heard Muffet McGraw say once that when Stef was in high school nobody thought she could chew bubble gum and walk at the same time...then gave kudos to Geno for finding the gem within...underestimated, without a doubt...

Stef is the kind of player that wills herself to greatness through hard work and desire, things I appreciate more than the uber athletic but undisciplined talent that garners all the ooohs and ahhhs...

But it isn't her play that distinguishes Stef to me...it's her inspirational leadership...I am convinced that Stef's gutty performance at the big dance this year was a big part of the team's ability to stop over thinking and play with the confidence, intensity and joy that blew the field away...and that tells me all I need to know about how appreciated Stef is by the people that really count...her teammates...

I cannot believe this is her senior year already...

 

[THC]

So, basically, she isn't under appreciated?

All good info but your post is based on something that is just not true.

Goodness, you must be a riot at parties.

 

[meyers7]

A statement [or a post] that ends with a question mark can hardly be considered a premise.

This was actually his premise.

But despite her size and excellent play, many consider Dolson "under appreciated", perhaps because she followed All-World center Tina Charles and played beside All-Americans Maya Moore, KML and now Breanna Stewart.

And I think quite possibly she was under appreciated. But really only at the beginning. And mostly in the sense that most people (me excluded) did not realize how good she was going to be. But as David's piece concluded, not any more.

Good stuff David.

 

[Icebear]

Yes, Meyers, was, but no longer.

 

[doggydaddy]

Goodness, you must be a riot at parties.

Well, with a little THC, i'm really funny.

 

[doggydaddy]

Goodness, you must be a riot at parties.

I wanted to thank you for your presence here on the womens board.

You hadn't posted here since March, where you made fun of a picture of Boneyarders "Who's the Geek with the balls all over his head?". Nice.

Prior to that, way back in December, you said the same thing to Icebear "You must be a blast at a party. ".

3 posts, every 3 months. I look forward to your next pearl of wisdom in September.

 

[meyers7]

3 posts, every 3 months.

Probably partying too much to post.

3 month benders can be a b!tch!

 

[earl the pearl]

I wanted to thank you for your presence here on the womens board.

You hadn't posted here since March, where you made fun of a picture of Boneyarders "Who's the Geek with the balls all over his head?". Nice.

Prior to that, way back in December, you said the same thing to Icebear "You must be a blast at a party. ".

3 posts, every 3 months. I look forward to your next pearl of wisdom in September.

Someone's skin is mighty thin............

 

[pinotbear]

Goodness, you must be a riot at parties.

more precisely, DD causes riots at parties..

 

[Icebear]

more precisely, DD causes riots at parties..

Whether they involve THC or not.

 

[THC]

I wanted to thank you for your presence here on the womens board.

You hadn't posted here since March, where you made fun of a picture of Boneyarders "Who's the Geek with the balls all over his head?". Nice.

Prior to that, way back in December, you said the same thing to Icebear "You must be a blast at a party. ".

3 posts, every 3 months. I look forward to your next pearl of wisdom in September.

I apologize for trying to get a laugh at your expense. However, you're such an easy mark I couldn't resist. I know UCONN women's bball is serious bidness, but you're wound tighter than a duck's butt. And yeah, things like work, family, friends, and hobbies tend to stop me from being a prolific poster such as yourself. You're fortunate such things don't apply to you, post on my pig-hearted friend.

 

[Sonny44]

Someone's skin is mighty thin............

Plus, someone's just got too much spare time.

 

[meyers7]

Plus, someone's just got too much spare time.

We all got too much time on our hands. Somebody ought to write a song about it............hey wait.....

 

[Bigpetunia]

Yes, there are a few self-appointed heysiddonders on this board!

 

[doggydaddy]

I apologize for trying to get a laugh at your expense. However, you're such an easy mark I couldn't resist. I know UCONN women's bball is serious bidness, but you're wound tighter than a duck's butt. And yeah, things like work, family, friends, and hobbies tend to stop me from being a prolific poster such as yourself. You're fortunate such things don't apply to you, post on my pig-hearted friend.

Someone with such a low post count would have no idea about my pig heart.

Who are you,my cynical friend?

 

[doggydaddy]

Someone's skin is mighty thin............

Nope, not thin skinned at all. But thanks for your concern.

 

[msf22b]

He just unaplogetically defends his reality based positions (his reality). MSF

My reality? Funny coming from the poster voted most likely to question Geno's minutes distribution in 2013-14. Your reality is rarely based on facts, as mine was in regards to Dolson being under appreciated.

You know Doggy, I actually regret putting in the last two words; an unnecessary crack. I apologize, ruined my point.

but:

I'm proud as heck at my complaining throughout the season and winning the championship didn't assuage me one bit.
Indeed, one could interpret Geno's remarks after the Big East loss as his coming to the same conclusion that a few of us had bellyached about throughout the season and that (if I recall correctly) even some of the press had picked up on.
The team was going as far as the freshman would take them…or to put it in another, more reasonable way; their contribution to the upperclass leadership (to which I include KML) was paramount to winning the title.
Stewie went off like a rocket which made for unsolvable problems for any defense…just too many scoring options but Tuck and Mo played important minutes as well.
Finally, it was a team with all folks freed up to make their best contribution.
Even Heather, bless her heart…my fav moment of the whole thing.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Stef is the heart and soul of this team and arguably our most compelling personality since Diana.

She's not underappreciated in this corner of Husky Nation.

The Big Girl definitely has big personality! Ya gotta love Stef!

 

[chrissaran]

I remember when Stefanie was first recruited to UConn...the description read something like: Good size, very good footwork around the basket, good hands with a soft touch and an excellent passer. Dolson was Jane Appel-like. Now, going into her senior campaign her description reads: She has good size, she has exceptional footwork around the basket, she has excellent hands with a soft shooting touch and is probably the best passing center in WCBB. Oh, and one more thing she is the leader, the glue and backbone of the current National Champion UConn women's basketball team. Under appreciated? Nah, I don't think so!

No offense, but Kelly was the leader, the glue and backbone. For this current season we will find out.

 

[rocky rococo]

Just one quibble with the OP. Time and legends sometimes eclipse the facts. Those two baskets Willis Reed made at the beginning of the game? That was it, he didn't score any more at all. Stef did more, better. (Of course the very fact that Reed was able to do that at all blew up the narrative the Lakers came into the game with. But still, Stef was better.)

 

[UcMiami]

I think one aspect that was missed in HS (and college) for Stef - she is a big goofy fun-loving girl off the court and it is hard sometimes to see the intensity/ambition in those personality types. BUT she has proven each off-season (including the one her senior year in HS) to be driven to improve her game and her conditioning. She has good natural talent but even better work ethic. The obvious comparison would be a certain DC area post from a few years ago with a similar skill set and personality, but maybe a little less discipline. Another of my favorite players, but with a less stellar career path.

 

[Icebear]

No offense, but Kelly was the leader, the glue and backbone. For this current season we will find out.

Not according to Geno. He referred to Stef as the heart and soul of the team.

 

[OneTrickPony]

Stef...Kelly...Kelly...Stef...I want both!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Stef...Kelly...Kelly...Stef...I want both!

Yes, great teams do not have just one, except perhaps one UConn Championship team in the early 2000s. Both contributed a lot of leadership.

 

[DavidinNaples]

Great article by John Altavilla about Saniya Chong today.... arrives at UConn July 15th... Wow does she sound incredible... Next Kelly? Next DT? Who knows, but gonna be special..!! She is going to be like a Swiss army knife of basketball....Go Huskies!