Is UConn's best 3 pt shooter not named Katie Lou...?

[DavidinNaples]

Even Katie Lou knows this is a stupid question..!! In her career, Katie Lou has made 204 three-point shots, in 500 tries, for an accuracy rate of just under 41%. That's 612 points from beyond the arc. Nobody else is close, right?

Well, not quite. Kia Nurse has made 199 career three-pointers in 466 attempts. That works out to 42.7%..! This season, Nurse is on fire, shooting 22-40 or 55%..! Clearly, KLS has been injured and Kia has picked up the slack. So, 199 is pretty close to 204 in the made 3's department and 42.7% beats 41%, therefor Kia is #1..? Right?

Not so fast, my friends.. Samuelson once went 10-10 in the same game. If Geno hadn't taken pity on USF, she might have gone 20-20. But, Kia just went 8-8 and over several games made like 12 or 13 in a row. That's better, no?

Just a minute... Any proper debate needs to include Crystal Dangerfield, who has made more 3s this season than either Kia or Katie. Crystal is 23-43 or 53.5%. And, she ought to be getting 4 points for some of her shots because they are darn near NBA depth. Yeah, but what about Dangerfield last season? Fine, add last season to the 8 games this year and Crystal is 49-125 or 39.2%. Pretty darn good and getting better..!

There is no clear correct answer. But it is impressive as heck that UConn's three-point stats include the following:

1. A backcourt of Kia and Crystal shooting a combined 45-83 or 54.2% from three range.
2. Crystal with two games of 6-7 (85%) from three-point range. (Stanford & DePaul)
3. Nurse going 8-8 against Nevada.
4. Lou with career game highs in threes of 10, 7, 7, 6, and 5 three times.
5. As a team, the Huskies are 69-172 or 40.1% this season, against some good opponents.
6. Samuelson coming back from injury and leading the team in scoring against Notre Dame and DePaul with 5 three-point makes.
7. Defense holding opponents to 29.2% accuracy from beyond the arc (54-185).

Go Huskies..!!

 

[MilfordHusky]

The 3-point shooting has improved and is at a good level. Crystal is showing that she can shoot from very deep, Kia has made herself an elite shooter, and Lou is a member of a family that has THREE players who have made 200+ threes at the major college level.

 

[dogged1]

View attachment 26870

Even Katie Lou knows this is a stupid question..!! In her career, Katie Lou has made 204 three-point shots, in 500 tries, for an accuracy rate of just under 41%. That's 612 points from beyond the arc. Nobody else is close, right?

Well, not quite. Kia Nurse has made 199 career three-pointers in 466 attempts. That works out to 42.7%..! This season, Nurse is on fire, shooting 22-40 or 55%..! Clearly, KLS has been injured and Kia has picked up the slack. So, 199 is pretty close to 204 in the made 3's department and 42.7% beats 41%, therefor Kia is #1..? Right?

Not so fast, my friends.. Samuelson once went 10-10 in the same game. If Geno hadn't taken pity on USF, she might have gone 20-20. But, Kia just went 8-8 and over several games made like 12 or 13 in a row. That's better, no?

Just a minute... Any proper debate needs to include Crystal Dangerfield, who has made more 3s this season than either Kia or Katie. Crystal is 23-43 or 53.5%. And, she ought to be getting 4 points for some of her shots because they are darn near NBA depth. Yeah, but what about Dangerfield last season? Fine, add last season to the 8 games this year and Crystal is 49-125 or 39.2%. Pretty darn good and getting better..!

There is no clear correct answer. But it is impressive as heck that UConn's three-point stats include the following:

1. A backcourt of Kia and Crystal shooting a combined 45-83 or 54.2% from three range.
2. Crystal with two games of 6-7 (85%) from three-point range. (Stanford & DePaul)
3. Nurse going 8-8 against Nevada.
4. Lou with career game highs in threes of 10, 7, 7, 6, and 5 three times.
5. As a team, the Huskies are 69-172 or 40.1% this season, against some good opponents.
6. Samuelson coming back from injury and leading the team in scoring against Notre Dame and DePaul with 5 three-point makes.
7. Defense holding opponents to 29.2% accuracy from beyond the arc (54-185).

Go Huskies..!!

You rock, DavidinNaples. Just be careful not to develop split personality disorder when your arguing with yourself.

 

[chrissaran]

When a defense focuses on Kia and Crystal the way they do Katie Lou, then you can acknowledge them as the best three-point shooter on the team. The offense runs a lot more smoothly with Lou in the game.

 

[Huskee11]

Great post, as always, but not the pic I would have gone with.

 

[SVCBeercats]

CORRECTION: I forgot Kia's freshman stats. Thanks, David.
For me the best is the highest percentage of made three point shots while making or exceeding a set minimum of made three point shots. Having a set minimum of say 150 career made three points eliminates those with a high percentage but a low number of tries and makes. It also makes the shooters efforts relevant to the team's efforts. In any case this season Lou trails Kia and Crystal by a significant percentage while being injured. During the 2016-17 season Nurse was the best three point shooter. During the 2015-16 season Lou was the third best behind Stewie and MoJeff. Lou's career three point percentage is 40.9% (204-499, 7th place all-time at UCONN) and Nurse's career three point percentage is 42.7% (199-466, 4th place all-time at UCONN) . Kia's three point shooting is on a serious upward trend - 37%, 46% 55%! Can this last? Probably not, but as of now she is the current UCONN Queen of three pointers. Sue Bird's career three point shooting reigns supreme at 45.9% (207-451).

         Lou    Nurse Crystal Stewart Jefferson
2017-18  36.8%  55.0% 53.5%
2016-17  42.0%  46.2% 31.7%
2015-16  39.4%  37.0%         42.6%   43.1%
2014-15         40.8%

 

[SVCBeercats]

When a defense focuses on Kia and Crystal the way they do Katie Lou, then you can acknowledge them as the best three-point shooter on the team. The offense runs a lot more smoothly with Lou in the game.

Defense focusing on Lou is an old excuse. No defense can focus on any one UCONN player since they all can and do score. Witness the fact there are six players scoring in double figures. Soon to be seven (Walker) - some time in March. If an opponent focuses on Lou they are leaving open two better three point shooters. While Lou was out, were UCONN's opponents still focusing on her while she was on the bench? Is that how Kia and Crystal got all those open looks? Look, last season I viewed Lou as a shooter and only a shooter. This season she has made as huge a jump as Crystal has. Lou's entire game is so much better. Like Geno said, I never thought I would say this but UCONN missed her defense more than her scoring. She has an inside game to go with the outside game. If an opponent plays her tight at the arc chances are she will be all alone as Lou drives by her for a layup. Those long arms have deflected and stolen many passes by the smaller guards not used to a 6'3" long armed defender on the perimeter. I am really excited about her whole game. I really believe she made as big a jump as Crystal. I just hope this injury does not linger. Foot sprains are a bugger!

 

[Centerstream]

Great post, as always, but not the pic I would have gone with.


View attachment 26872

Thanks for this picture of Lou because I stole it and made it my avatar.

 

[hugefan]

I guess it’s like when a player gets wide open lay ups like in the Depaul game with no defender close to them so glad we have these guards who spread the floor and as Geno said opens up the middle.

Love this team with so many weapons.

 

[HoopsFan21]

Our best shooter is Kia. I don't think KLS has ever led the team in any shooting (3FG, FT%, FG%) category and may very well leave UConn never having done so.

 

[Kaizen]

Megas was 3-3 (100%) vs. UCLA ....at 3 pts

 

[MilfordHusky]

Speaking of shooters, I think my recent research showed that we had a player who was 1 missed FT away from the Holy Grail of shooting, 50/40/90, in each of her sophomore and senior All-American years.

Actually, she was only a few 3-pointers from 50/50/90.

 

[hugefan]

I wanna give a plug to Gabby. Gabby the unselfish teammate always looking to make the pass for an easy bucket. Sometimes if they don’t connect it could be due to reading a play and the other player not reading it the same way. Sure some go awry but I will take our Gabby making those sweet assists any day of the week.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Terrible dilemma ... woe is us!

 

[BostonCanuck]

An embarrassment of riches.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Geno talks the 3 shooters in his weekly radio show. Z could not miss in practice and now is 3 for 20. He says Kia can't hit in practice and the games well ("her crazy streak") ... Crystal..."why would you guard her out there?" Lou ... rusty, winded, shot 50%... starts around 14 minutes

 

[oldude]

Not really sure who the best 3-pt shooter is, but with 3 great long-range bombers on the floor at the same time, and some combination of Z, Pheesa & Gabby reeking havoc in the paint, UConn is virtually impossible to defend.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

We really do not need it, but I hope and believe Z will find her 3 again.

 

[BigBird]

Joyce does a really good job hosting this show. It’s not easy duty.

 

[Florida Fan]

You rock, DavidinNaples. Just be careful not to develop split personality disorder when your arguing with yourself.

And good in math, our non-embarrassment of riches. Thank for putting the numbers out there for us to enjoy.

 

[Los24]

My opinion is Crystal needs to go through a season before she is crowned anything. That said she is obviously hot right now. I have seen folks dismiss KLS being the focus of defenses but I have yet to see an opposing coach say we need to stop Cystal or even Kia. I have not seen either of them get hit so many times by opposing players as they move around the floor, including the ones not guarding them. This takes a toll. My point is there are many factors into who is the "best" and it goes beyond a portion of a season or just statistics. Better for people to say right now "so and so" is shooting it better.

To further my point, even after Westbrook won MVP almost averaging a TRIPLE DOUBLE! People say Lebron is the "best." All that to say UConn is the best because this team is simply about team. : - )

 

[LoveConngirls]

Kia has mostly always been there

 

[JordyG]

Aside from Z's terrible percentage from the arc this team is shooting lights out from 3. Now if Pheese can just get her numbers up from the arc AND inside the arc....

 

[chrissaran]

Kia and Crystal got many open shots because they focused on Z and Napheesa. Also, Lou has played in only 2 complete games, Stanford and DePaul.

 

[SVCBeercats]

CORRECTION: forgot to include Nurse's freshman year - Thanks David
For me the best is the highest percentage of made three point shots while making or exceeding a set minimum of made three point shots. Having a set minimum of say 150 career made three points eliminates those with a high percentage but a low number of tries and makes. It also makes the shooters efforts relevant to the team's efforts. In any case this season Lou trails Kia and Crystal by a significant percentage while being injured. During the 2016-17 season Nurse was the best three point shooter. During the 2015-16 season Lou was the third best behind Stewie and MoJeff. Lou's career three point percentage is 40.9% (204-499, 7th place all-time at UCONN) and Nurse's career three point percentage is 42.7% (199-466, 4th place all-time at UCONN) . Kia's three point shooting is on a serious upward trend - 37%, 46% 55%! Can this last? Probably not, but as of now she is the current UCONN Queen of three pointers. Sue Bird's career three point shooting reigns supreme at 45.9% (207-451).

         Lou    Nurse Crystal Stewart Jefferson
2017-18  36.8%  55.0% 53.5%
2016-17  42.0%  46.2% 31.7%
2015-16  39.4%  37.0%         42.6%   43.1%
2014-15         40.8%