Katie Lou for NPOY

[bballnut90]

With so many different POY awards, I'd like KLS, Vivians, and Wilson to all bring home some hardware this year. They've all had equally deserving seasons IMO.

KLS has been outstanding all season long and is the best player for the #1 undefeated team. Really good all around numbers and is one of the most talented offensive players in the country.

Vivians plays a very similar role for Mississippi State. And she's also the best player for an undefeated team. KLS has better percentages and assists per game, Vivians is better off the bounce and more of a creator IMO. Equally worthy.

Wilson would be my 3rd pick, but that's mainly because I'm just sick of the media obsessing over her. Avoiding my bias, she's absolutely is a worthy choice and is right there with the other 2. When you look at her body of work I think she's very deserving this season. 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 55% FG...no doubt she deserves consideration and would be a worthy winner.

 

[bballnut90]

We all want her to win every award possible, but let's not get carried away. Stewie is one of the planet's best basketball players like Maya and DT in her prime. Lou will never be in that lofty category. It's a very hard club to join.

Agreed. Great player, but not close to being at Stewart's level. I think if you took any of the all time greats (which in the last 20 years includes just Holdsclaw, Taurasi, Moore, Parker, Griner and Stewart) and put them on a top 10-15 team, they instantly become a Final Four favorite and title contender. As great a player as KLS is, I don't feel that way about her. Just my opinion.

 

[Ouremblem]

The pass that Lou made to Kia the other night where Kia travelled, that was ESPN highlight material had Kia not travelled.

 

[MSGRET]

If Wilson plays the same way in the WNBA as she does in the WCBB she will foul out before the first half. She is hardly ever called for over the back fouls, and had at least 5 of them not called by the refs in the UConn game in the First Half alone.

 

[CBear01]

all time greats (which in the last 20 years includes just Holdsclaw, Taurasi, Moore, Parker, Griner and Stewart)

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

I hope the Voters will be objective in their process, that they will not go by the Pre-Season "hype", that they will not play into the ESPN and others "hype", but that they will look at the legitimate candidates and vote accordingly. I do not believe in the "give it to the senior...the juniors and sophomores have the next one or two years to win it" philosophy. We all know how quickly a player's season can come to a screeching halt by injury.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

The pass that Lou made to Kia the other night where Kia travelled, that was ESPN highlight material had Kia not travelled.

Ouremblem... I thought the same thing, and the ESPN announcers were impressed. I can only wonder if Kia was expecting that pass from Lou at that moment...she has come to expect it from Gabby and Danger, but maybe the quickness and crispness and threading the needle that Lou did on that caught her a bit by surprise???

 

[Mister2]

We all want her to win every award possible, but let's not get carried away. Stewie is one of the planet's best basketball players like Maya and DT in her prime. Lou will never be in that lofty category. It's a very hard club to join.

That is a pretty pre-mature judgment IMHO. KLS right now is as good an offensive player as Stewie ever was in her UCONN days. Where KLS falls short is her defense, which, as I said before, she has improved tremendously this season. To say that she will NEVER be in Stewie's league is too hasty a verdict to render. But, as I also said, opinions differ.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

I thank God every day that A'ja Wilson chose SoCar over UCONN!
IMHO A'ja isn't even in my top 16 players in Division I! She's the Elizabeth Williams of 2014-2018, more hype than talent!
In no real order:
KLS UCONN G/F
Gabby UCONN F
Pheesa UCONN F
Nurse UCONN G
Crystal Dangerfield UCONN G
Azura UCONN F/C
Vivians MissSt. F/G
Cox Baylor C/F
Cunningham MO F
McCowan MissSt. C
Billings UCLA F
Ionescu Oregon G
Heberd Oregon F/C
Brown Duke G
Thomas FSU F
Howard TX A&M F

 

[Golden Husky]

See this thread

Thanks. Clearly I don't read every post so I'm grateful you provided the information.

 

[bballnut90]

I thank God every day that A'ja Wilson chose SoCar over UCONN!
IMHO A'ja isn't even in my top 16 players in Division I! She's the Elizabeth Williams of 2014-2018, more hype than talent!
In no real order:
KLS UCONN G/F
Gabby UCONN F
Pheesa UCONN F
Nurse UCONN G
Crystal Dangerfield UCONN G
Azura UCONN F/C
Vivians MissSt. F/G
Cox Baylor C/F
Cunningham MO F
McCowan MissSt. C
Billings UCLA F
Ionescu Oregon G
Heberd Oregon F/C
Brown Duke G
Thomas FSU F
Howard TX A&M F

All credibility goes out the window after seeing this list.

 

[Bronx23]

Just to clarify I wasn't saying that KLS is right there with Stewie. I said she's right behind the big three and may get closer if she continues her growth and improvement. I said her game is most similar to Stewie's in some ways. Offensively I think at this point they are close. KLS still has a ways to go in terms of defense (although she has improved considerably), rebounding offensively and defensively and up to this point KLS is not a shot blocker (and may never be). KLS offensive game and her ability to do so many different things extremely well is pretty top shelf.
Bronx23

 

[CocoHusky]

IMO she's been the best player for the last 2 yrs. I just hope whoever is voting on these awards don't use the logic that she will get it her senior year, because she already got screwed on it last year. I mean there's no doubt she will get it next year but she should be a 2 time npoy!

Hard to justify KLS being NPOY last season when she was not selected as sole POY in her own conference, the record setting season that Kelsey Plum had and the National Championship season that A'Ja Wilson led South Carolina to.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

All credibility goes out the window after seeing this list.

bballnut90- - - Well they do say that "opinions are like "butts" everyone's got one!"
We can just agree to disagree.
Losing credibility in your eyes won't be keeping me up at night! I can promise you that!
I wouldn't want A'ja Wilson on my team with all the talent I listed above they would still win a national title without the diva!

 

[cohenzone]

It works for me but they have annoited Wilson the winner and I think the voters are going to run with that. Unfortunately.

Probably. They likely see next year as KLS's time.

 

[bballnut90]

bballnut90- - - Well they do say that "opinions are like "butts" everyone's got one!"
We can just agree to disagree.
Losing credibility in your eyes won't be keeping me up at night! I can promise you that!
I wouldn't want A'ja Wilson on my team with all the talent I listed above they would still win a national title without the diva!

Diva is not the word I'd use to describe A'ja...but I guess we can agree to disagree.

 

[bballnut90]

Just to clarify I wasn't saying that KLS is right there with Stewie. I said she's right behind the big three and may get closer if she continues her growth and improvement. I said her game is most similar to Stewie's in some ways. Offensively I think at this point they are close. KLS still has a ways to go in terms of defense (although she has improved considerably), rebounding offensively and defensively and up to this point KLS is not a shot blocker (and may never be). KLS offensive game and her ability to do so many different things extremely well is pretty top shelf.
Bronx23

Just different players with different skill sets IMO. KLS is a more like a poor man's Elena Delle Donne IMO. Perimeter oriented, lights out shooter, good all around game. Stewart doesn't have the perimeter skill set that KLS does, but is much much better putting the ball on the floor and finishing from 15 feet and in than KLS will ever be. Defensively I don't think it's a comparison, Stewart was Griner-like defensively her senior season.

I don't think KLS ever hits Big 3 status, but when she graduates I think she'll be right there with Bird/Jefferson/Lobo/Charles in the 2nd crop of players.

 

[Centerstream]

Just different players with different skill sets IMO. KLS is a more like a poor man's Elena Delle Donne IMO. Perimeter oriented, lights out shooter, good all around game. Stewart doesn't have the perimeter skill set that KLS does, but is much much better putting the ball on the floor and finishing from 15 feet and in than KLS will ever be. Defensively I don't think it's a comparison, Stewart was Griner-like defensively her senior season.

I don't think KLS ever hits Big 3 status, but when she graduates I think she'll be right there with Bird/Jefferson/Lobo/Charles in the 2nd crop of players.

In what way does Stewie not have the same perimeter skills as Lou? I guess her lack of perimeter skills is the reason that she was the most feared WCBB offensive player her last 3 years at UConn and never won any major awards. Do you just state your "opinion" on this forum just to stir the pot?

 

[CBear01]

To say that she will NEVER be in Stewie's league is too hasty a verdict to render

In all reality she will need to will her team to another championship this year as well as next to even BEGIN discussion in Stewart's league. Stewie has 4, she's in a league of her own right now. And she had the chutzpah to predict it before she even stepped foot on campus.

Lou can end her career in the same breathe as players like Sue, Kara, Swin, etc. Equal offensive players, differences in defense of course.

But hey, we have a long tourney ahead and other year of appreciating Lou's stellar play. I wouldn't count her out just yet...

I am a Lou fan and we will see her reach the potential Geno knows she has this tourney that will carry all thru the next season.

IMHO of course

 

[Buzzyboy]

Which 5 players would you place on the list instead of her?

Kalani Brown, Ionescu, Katie Lou, Asia Durr and since I'm not privy to a lot of women's basketball games, I am pretty comfortable that there are others! I just don't have innate knowledge of them. I seem to remember a few others being named her on the Boneyard and this site has some very astute followers of the women's game. My bad for being a bit older and a little bit forgetful. In games that I've seen her, I thought A'ja was sometimes pretty good and other times a bit ordinary considering her 6'5 size. She is obviously tall and athletic but I'm not sure I would say her skill set is outstanding.

 

[Buzzyboy]

In all reality she will need to will her team to another championship this year as well as next to even BEGIN discussion in Stewart's league. Stewie has 4, she's in a league of her own right now. And she had the chutzpah to predict it before she even stepped foot on campus.

Lou can end her career in the same breathe as players like Sue, Kara, Swin, etc. Equal offensive players, differences in defense of course.

But hey, we have a long tourney ahead and other year of appreciating Lou's stellar play. I wouldn't count her out just yet...

I am a Lou fan and we will see her reach the potential Geno knows she has this tourney that will carry all thru the next season.

IMHO of course

I personally think it is silly to suggest that KLS is less than Stewie based on national championships. I seem to remember reading KML had on a few occasions put UConn on her back and saved UConn from a loss that would have eliminated them from the Big Dance. Stewie is marvelous but so isn't KLS and that's almost to suggest that Ernie Banks or Carl Yastrezemski or countless other fantastic athletes that never won the big one were less! Stupid argument! For a good part of her freshman year there were a lot of people wondering why Stewie had been considered the number 1 recruit in her class because she was mediocre, AT BEST, but she did redeem herself in the post season by playing very well indeed. I personally enjoy watching the multi dimensional game of KLS over Stewie because I thought for most of her time in Storrs she had great results but looked very awkward and gangly doing it. JMHO but I really am a big fan of Stewie's, honestly. It didn't hurt to have Mo and KML and Morgan and Kia helping along the way. The way UConn plays team ball, it isn't always possible to pin the success or failure of a team on one player. My favorite two UConn players every are Maya and probably now KLS with Sue Bird right there, as well. So many great choices, aren't there!

 

[Buzzyboy]

A few days ago when Geno was lauding KLS's NPOY candidacy, he specifically mentioned 5 aspects of her game:

shooting
ball handling
passing
smarts
making team mates better

Now, there are 2 things really revealing what Geno said: (1) only the shooting aspect will fully show up in her stats; the other 4 can only be appreciated fully by watching her play; (2) no mention of KLS's defensive skills.

I'm as big a fan of KLS as anyone on this board, but she is in my view still some ways off from being put in the same sentence as Stewie. At present, KLS is merely an above average defender, but as bags27 said, perhaps she would take the leap next season.

I think that KLS is a better shooter, ball handler, passer and is at least even, in smarts and making teammates better but I concede because of Stewie's length and wing span, KLS is nowhere near the defender Stewie is.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Old dude I agree with all except your last paragraph.
My main problem is unless A'Ja Wilson is capable of carrying her team on her back to a least the FF, she doesn't deserve the award. Yes she's pretty much a one woman team. I just don't think you give it to someone who takes her team from likely mediocrity to a very good team, unless her stats and play are off the charts. Again, her game this year against U Conn (pretty much like last year) indicate to me she's a very, very good player not a great one.
I've stated this before that I believe KLS is already the 4th best player in U Conns amazing history and she will only continue to get better.
The closest in style to her amongst the top 3 is Stewie and KLS while maybe as good as Stewie offensively still has a long ways to go defensively, shot blocking and rebounding to reach her level. Even to be mentioned in the same sentence says so much! KLS work ethic and total team focus, will only take her further. How much further, I can't wait to see!
Bronx23

Insofar as your referring to Stewie's big advantage in rebounding, you know that KLS plays a completely different position and is in nowhere near the position typically on the court to garner rebounds. Beyond that, in her first two years especially, there was a lot of remarks here on the Boneyard about Stewie's hands and her lack of strength which adversely affected her rebounding and even holding onto passes down low. She drastically improved in her final two seasons but those first two years her rebounding was a bit suspect.

 

[Buzzyboy]

Which 5 players would you place on the list instead of her?

I honestly think that had she gone to UConn instead of South Carolina and allowed Geno and staff to push her to (and beyond) her limits, she would unanimously be the player of the year. There's no doubt in my mind that no one develops their players as well as does the Huskie hierarchy. I'm not trying to demonize South Carolina's staff but as has been proven by the Huskies success over the years, it's making good players better and better players great!

 

[DefenseBB]

Which 5 players would you place on the list instead of her?

I can answer that question-there may be only 1...Katie Lou Samuelson. Anyone else who says A’ja Wilson is not one of the top 3 players in WCBB is ignorant. While we on the BY nitpick her deficiencies, mostly due to either our bitterness over her picking SC over UConn or due to our passion for ou UConn players, she is worthy of much praise and will win a few if not the majority of the NPOY awards, which she will have deserved. I also think Mister2 nailed it in that with so many awards and Geno advocating, KLS will win at least one if she’s continues her part.

 

[Los24]

Just different players with different skill sets IMO. KLS is a more like a poor man's Elena Delle Donne IMO. Perimeter oriented, lights out shooter, good all around game. Stewart doesn't have the perimeter skill set that KLS does, but is much much better putting the ball on the floor and finishing from 15 feet and in than KLS will ever be. Defensively I don't think it's a comparison, Stewart was Griner-like defensively her senior season.

I don't think KLS ever hits Big 3 status, but when she graduates I think she'll be right there with Bird/Jefferson/Lobo/Charles in the 2nd crop of players.

Poor man Elena is a bit strange to say about a sophomore that started majority of freshman games and was dropping 20 points a game towards the end of the season. Then goes on to score 20pts a game and make AA her sophomore year. She dropped 40 in conference final while setting the record for 3s without a miss 10 for 10. She actually shot 50% in MSST loss. Time will tell but just taking college careers, and yes the level of competition matters, I would not be so quick to sell Lou short on being as impactful during her collegiate career.

Moving to Stewie .... she was awesome and arguably the best ever. However, you have said some things that I feel are just not correct. Lou can hit within 15 feet every bit as good as Stewie. Look at her curl play around the key. She is one of the few on the team that actually has a pull-up jumper and hits it pretty consitently as well. If you said posting up and with in 4-5 feet you would have been correct.

Lou is a better ball handler and passer too. 3pt shooting is not close at comparative stages either. As I posted on another thread, Lou is the only player over 6'1" in top 50 3pt% shooting (#1) and also only player in top 50 over 6' in A/T ratio (was top 10 don't know where currently.) This shows a diversity that literally no one else in the county has for a 6'3" player.

Defensively, I agree with you 100%. I am not sure athletically she is able to ever get there regarding blocks and possibly rebounding compared to Stewie, but quite honestly neither have most.

Below is comparing Apples to Apples, their Junior seasons:

So Lou has better Scoring avg, FG%, 3p%, FT%, A/T ratio not even close and Lou may catch her in total assists by end of year despite missing 5 games. All this to say I take Stewie and she is the better player, but we often remember the final year and not the progression to get there.

## Player GP-GS Min--Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct FT-FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 Stewart, Breanna... 39-39 1104 28.3 264-490 .539 30-96 .313 128-159 .805 83 220 303 7.8 65 0 122 76 104 61 686 17.6

## Player GP-GS Min--Avg FG-FGA Pct 3FG-FGA Pct FT-FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A TO Blk Stl Pts Avg
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33 Katie Lou Samuelson 24-24 683 28.5 154-283 .544 72-147 .490 59-72 .819 29 74 103 4.3 30 0 92 33 4 33 439 18.3

 

[Los24]

In what way does Stewie not have the same perimeter skills as Lou? I guess her lack of perimeter skills is the reason that she was the most feared WCBB offensive player her last 3 years at UConn and never won any major awards. Do you just state your "opinion" on this forum just to stir the pot?

Look at my post right above. Comparing same junior seasons, perimeter play Lou is better. Let's not forget that Stewie usually had a big on her where Lou has perimeter defenders. I like to restate that in no way am I saying Lou is better than Stewie as an overall player, post player, defensive player, etc... but Stewie had holes in her game and was not perfect in every single area. Shooting .313 from three does not comapre to leading the country. Also the A/T ratio is not close. Geno did not rely (as much) for Stewie to handle the ball.

 

[wallman]

Whenever I see a lot of comparing players white to white, black to black, I think that is just some kind of well unnecessary stereotyping. Then you have the comparison of players that actually play different rolls which is also unnecessary. It seems that because KLS is 6' 3", some don't like to call her what she plays, they like to pigeon hole players into forwards due to their height. One thing is for sure, there are no players her height who can do the things she does in college basketball.

 

[Los24]

Whenever I see a lot of comparing players white to white, black to black, I think that is just some kind of well unnecessary stereotyping. Then you have the comparison of players that actually play different rolls which is also unnecessary. It seems that because KLS is 6' 3", some don't like to call her what she plays, they like to pigeon hole players into forwards due to their height. One thing is for sure, there are no players her height who can do the things she does in college basketball.

Man I wish I could have been as concise in my response. Nicely done.

 

[bballnut90]

In what way does Stewie not have the same perimeter skills as Lou? I guess her lack of perimeter skills is the reason that she was the most feared WCBB offensive player her last 3 years at UConn and never won any major awards. Do you just state your "opinion" on this forum just to stir the pot?

She flat out isn’t as good a perimeter shooter as KLS is. I think KLS is a better passer too and at the same stage in their career, she was much better hitting pull-up jumpers and finishing perimeter shots that aren’t just catch and shoot. It’s not a knock on Stewart—they’re different players. KLS plays primarily on the perimeter, Stewart wasn’t primarily a perimeter player.