Kiah Stokes one of 6 Finalist for Defensive Player of the Year

[Wbbfan1]

http://www.wbca.org/pages/RELEASES_2014-15_040115_dpoy-finalists

Edited post to include the WBCA announcement

 

[alexrgct]

Congrats to Kiah. That young lady makes a difference.

 

[Huskies Rule]

* Season Stat totals for the 6 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year finalists:

- Kiah Stokes:............. 37 games, 19 minutes pg, 186 defensive rebounds, 145 blocks, 18 steals
- Elizabeth Williams: 32 games, 32 minutes pg, 163 defensive rebounds, 95 blocks, 48 steals
- Jordan Jones........... 28 games, 31 minutes pg, 89 defensive rebounds, 5 blocks, 54 steals
- Daisha Simmons...... 34 games, 35 minutes pg, 135 defensive rebounds, 16 blocks, 81 steals
- Syessence Davis........ 32 games, 27 minutes pg, 78 defensive rebounds, 9 blocks, 105 steals
- Kendall Noble........... 34 games, 30 minutes pg, 165 defensive rebounds, 28 blocks, 105 steals

-These are statistical categories in which one would expect to see excellence, but obviously it is
difficult, if not impossible, to compare guards with the big guys. I'm gonna try.
Jones, Simmons and Davis are guards while Kiah, Williams and Noble are frontcourt players.
- Specific selection criteria were not announced, so I'm taking a bit of a shot.

- Unlike the selection of A'ja Wilson to the AP All American Team, there really cannot be an undeserving pick here.
All six finalists are incredibly skilled defenders.

- Kiah is the runaway leader in what I think are two critical categories- def.reb. and blocks, playing a fraction of the minutes of others.
This level of truncated minutes did nothing to keep Wilson off the AP AA team- we shall see about the WBCA.

- The almost impossible to quantify elements include whether finalist shut down her individual opponent, but difficult since
teams play man and zone, the intimidation factor, shots not block but altered, level of competition, etc.

-I want Kiah to win, and her numbers indicate she has a excellent chance, but....
- Williams has the advantage of being a 3 time ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- The NCAA hates Simmons after she successfully fought her transfer from Alabama- that might influence WBCA
- Jones missed a lot of games, which will hurt her chances
- Davis was BigTen defensive player of year, that will likely help her chances
- Noble flew under the radar all year which will hurt her chances somewhat
- Stokes will unfairly suffer from all the UConn fatigue.

GOOD LUCK, KIAH !!

 

[VAMike23]

The choice is clear....!!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Kiah influences - and not in a good way - the other team's offense in ways far beyond her blocks. Did you catch her total intimidation of the Texas 6"8" kid in the second half - she went up near the head of the key for a shot and came back down= travel- because she saw Kiah waiting! Poor kidd, she's going to remember that moment for a long time!

 

[MilfordHusky]

For comparison, MoJett had 94 steals in 28 mpg. She was only 11 behind Davis and Noble.

It's amazing that Kiah has that many more defensive rebounds and blocks than Williams, in far fewer minutes.

 

[Coler]

Syessence Davis ended her career as Rutgers all time leader in steals, men's or women's. Gonna miss her next season.

 

[UcMiami]

For comparison, MoJett had 94 steals in 28 mpg. She was only 11 behind Davis and Noble.

It's amazing that Kiah has that many more defensive rebounds and blocks than Williams, in far fewer minutes.

And Moriah has 85 defensive rebounds and 6 blocks ... I tell ya, this voting is always rigged against Uconn players?! Why does jones get on the list and Moriah doesn't?!

 

[Huskies Rule]

And Moriah has 85 defensive rebounds and 6 blocks ... I tell ya, this voting is always rigged against Uconn players?! Why does jones get on the list and Moriah doesn't?!

It is rigged. For many small minded people and associations, when compelled to nominate even one UConn kid for an honor, it becomes agonizingly painful and done only because to do otherwise would reveal a blatant ignorance and bias. To nominate TWO UConn kids, however deserving, would be anathema to their very DNA- the facts be damned.

 

[geneticrex]

I say give it to A'ja Wilson.

She deserves it as much as her AA selection.

 

[HGN]

If the voting is based on stats and defensive productivity , I think Kiah Stokes stands an excellent chance of winning the award. Her production per minute played is outstanding. What may hurt her is that she is not a starter and that she plays for UConn.....and many voters may be biased against the Huskies , and any Husky winning anything.

GOOD LUCK KIAH.

 

[Huskies Rule]

If the voting is based on stats and defensive productivity , I think Kiah Stokes stands an excellent chance of winning the award. Her production per minute played is outstanding. What may hurt her is that she is not a starter and that she plays for UConn.....and many voters may be biased against the Huskies , and any Husky winning anything.

GOOD LUCK KIAH.

Heck, Kiah started FOUR games this year while incredibly A'ja Wilson started ONE and that didn't stop the AP voters from naming Wilson an AA. So theoretically, that issue shouldn't hurt Kiah. Unfortunately, the anti-UConn bias WILL.

 

[2Husky]

The best defender on the team with the nations beat defense has to be a strong contender. although its not like any of the other players are slouches

 

[jcoton56]

How about only 57 fouls committed during the year. I am sure some of them were real and some were most definitely not. 2.5 blocks for each foul assessed. That is terrific!

 

[UcMiami]

I find the 'uconn fatigue bias' argument to be a little tiring. For individual awards especially. On a five player AA team I can see most voters not choosing 3 players from one team or a ten player team not choosing more than 3 or on 15 player 1st, 2nd, 3rd team limiting it to 3 or4 from one team as being a slight bias, but I also see 3000 +/- division 1 players and there being legitimate alternatives to a selection of 5, 10, or 15 players. The same is clearly true each year for individual awards - you have two not necessarily comparable selection criteria 'best ____' vs. 'most important ____' to their team as well as simple disagreement amongst 2-4 choice for for either 'best' or 'most important'

Is there a voter out there who has a bias against Uconn - maybe, but there is likely one that doesn't like ND or Baylor or TN or ____ too. And one advantage that Uconn does receive is a ton of exposure on the national level, that a lot of teams and players do not get which certainly doesn't hurt.

Do I want to see Morgan Tuck get recognized ... yes, but I also recognize that their are legitimate alternatives to her making a 15 member AA selection. Just as for Stokes, or for Moriah for Defensive player or Lieberman award winner. And fans of one of those other players up for an award can have legitimate arguments for their player that does not include 'bias'. Some of this is a popularity contest and some of it is media hype and some is simple difference of opinion.

 

[bbsamjj]

Of course, Davis only averaged 26.8 mpg ; )

For comparison, MoJett had 94 steals in 28 mpg. She was only 11 behind Davis and Noble.

It's amazing that Kiah has that many more defensive rebounds and blocks than Williams, in far fewer minutes.

 

[cabbie191]

It is rigged. For many small minded people and associations, when compelled to nominate even one UConn kid for an honor, it becomes agonizingly painful and done only because to do otherwise would reveal a blatant ignorance and bias. To nominate TWO UConn kids, however deserving, would be anathema to their very DNA- the facts be damned.

It is rigged. For many small minded people and associations, when compelled to nominate even one UConn kid for an honor, it becomes agonizingly painful and done only because to do otherwise would reveal a blatant ignorance and bias. To nominate TWO UConn kids, however deserving, would be anathema to their very DNA- the facts be damned.

Seriously? Then how does one explain UConn players winning the Naismith Player of the Year award 8 times over the past 19 years?

 

[UConn990411]

I don't think you can give this award to someone who doesn't even play half the game. But it's impressive how many awards Stokes is up for despite her relatively limited minutes.

Definitely expecting her to find a niche in the WNBA for this reason alone - she's a big-time difference maker on D, and more than competent enough as a scorer and rebounder.

 

[jcoton56]

The actual blocks are just the part of the iceberg you can see. Altered shots and just plain banishment from the paint in the time she is in. If you can picture her in the game for 23 minutes like the other starters her numbers would increase by 25% in just 4 extra minutes. This same bias is applied against all the UConn ladies. They don't have to play 40 minutes all year long. Naturally they can in the games that mean the most.

 

[Nuyoika]

If you ask me... which no one has, but I'll elaborate anyway; if you said what is Kiah Stokes known for? My response naturally would be "Blocks". If you said what is Elizabeth Williams known for, my response would be "Playing at Duke." That's just what comes to mind. Is this the same for anyone else?

 

[HGN]

If you ask me... which no one has, but I'll elaborate anyway; if you said what is Kiah Stokes known for? My response naturally would be "Blocks". If you said what is Elizabeth Williams known for, my response would be "Playing at Duke." That's just what comes to mind. Is this the same for anyone else?

I would probably say the same...........Though I would add that she is a good player but was indeed harmed by not getting deeper in the NCAA Tournament to get much notice natioanally over the last 4 years. Others that came in her class , KML and Stokes ,etc , always went to FF for instance and won NC's.

 

[Nuyoika]

I would probably say the same......Though I would add that she is a good player but was indeed harmed by not getting deeper in the NCAA Tournament to get much notice natioanally over the last 4 years. Others that came in her class , KML and Stokes ,etc , always went to FF for instance and won NC's.

I can agree with that. I think I said on here last week that had she gone elsewhere, I feel like she could have achieved more on the basketball side. I hear she wants to be a doctor though so maybe Duke was meant to be her catalyst for that.

 

[triaddukefan]

I'll be nice

 

[Huskies Rule]

Seriously? Then how does one explain UConn players winning the Naismith Player of the Year award 8 times over the past 19 years?

"...it becomes agonizingly painful (for those reluctant UConn voters) and is done only because to do otherwise would reveal a blatant ignorance and bias."