KK or Ashlynn for BE FOY? | Page 3 | The Boneyard

KK or Ashlynn for BE FOY?

Which player will win BE FOY?

  • KK

    Votes: 30 22.4%

  • Ashlynn

    Votes: 104 77.6%

  • Anyone else

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    134
  • Poll closed .
oldude said:
OK, with UConn WBB seemingly having a hammer lock on the FOW award between KK, Ashlynn & Q, it’s time for all BY’ers to weigh in on which Husky will be awarded the BE FOY award and why?

Of course KK was named preseason FOY in the BE, and she has been outstanding. But Ashlynn has stepped up as well and been equally outstanding. Right now, I can make a bunch of really good arguments for either one. Tell me what you think.
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Not even close. KK is playing like a great freshman. Ashlynn is playing like a senior. She is doing what Carolyn did 2 years ago.
 
oldude said:
Let’s talk numbers. KK has played approximately 10% more minutes than Ashlynn, 400 to 347, and has 6X as many steals, 36 to 6. KK’s 36 steals lead the Huskies ahead of Paige’s 33, and ranks 44th in the nation.

If you want to know how important those steals are to UConn just consider what Geno said a few games back. “Every steal not only represents an extra possession for us to score, but one less possession for the opponent to score.” In effect, each steal can result in up to a 6 pt differential in the score.

Ashlynn is a good defender and she works at it. KK is incredibly quick, one of the best “on ball” defenders I’ve ever seen at UConn and she will only get better.
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I concede the point on the steals and the importance that they represent. Yes KK is a gnat when she is after the ball while being the quickest player on team UCONN. My point on Ash, she is very often defending players in the front court, players often much bigger and taller than her. Wining many more matchups than not. I guess it comes down to what impresses you most, both are tenacious and unafraid both outplaying most of their matchups. It comes down to what impresses you most.
I take your numbers at face value, and they are impressive. I am more of a gut feeling type of analyzing fan. I love watching both our jaguar KK and our Humvee Ash. Both are Huskies, include Q and it shows just how amazing our freshman class is. Take your pick on which is better. I respect your pick on this post and your incredible BB IQ. It's fun for me to debate these questions with you and other BY legends. Hat's off.
 
my2cents said:
This debate is a lot like the Jim Rice, Fred Lynn debate in 1975 when they were both rookies.
The real debate is how much better are we with Shade/Arnold in the starting lineup vs. Fudd/Ducharme.
Expand ...
I would have to say that UConn is a better team with a healthy Azzi & Caroline. But there’s the rub……
 
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my2cents said:
This debate is a lot like the Jim Rice, Fred Lynn debate in 1975 when they were both rookies.
The real debate is how much better are we with Shade/Arnold in the starting lineup vs. Fudd/Ducharme.
Expand ...
Hmmm. . . A question with no answer.

As it stands the best we have is KK and Ash. If either or both experiences physical issues later in their career as have Azzie and Caroline we will be where we were before KK and Ash arrived.

If Azzie & Caroline hadn't experienced the physical issues KK and Ash would be serving their freshman apprenticeship and providing breaks for our starters and enabling the team to attack over the full court for 40 minutes or longer.

I'm hoping that next year KK and Ash have to work harder and smarter than at any point in their live if they want to have a starter role on the team.
 
It's too early. Both are working upperclassman minutes and there is this phantom called the wall which may strike. Both are marvelous, but they are swimming in the deep end without floaties.
 
oldude said:
Surprised by the vote totals so far, particularly when you compare stats. While both players have put up great numbers, KK leads in mpg, FG%, 3pt FG%, rebounds and leads in assists & steals by a lot….also leads in turnovers and pf’s by a lot. KK has the ball in her hands more and maintains a respectable A/TO ratio of 1.59, while Ashlynn is just behind with a 1.50 A/TO ratio.

Ashlynn leads slightly in ppg, and has a big lead in FT %, although KK has gotten to the foul line a lot more 42 to 12.
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Part of the stat differential may have to do with the fact that Ash’s increased minutes came after the loss of Azzi and Caroline. KK already had a role from the outset. Once Ash hit her stride she hasn’t left the floor. She does it all at both ends.
 
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oldude said:
“Ash a much better outside shooter?” As I mentioned earlier, Ashlynn is shooting a very respectable .345 from the arc while KK is shooting.400….:oops:
Expand ...
Um, Ash has attempted twice as many and still made a high percentage. Let’s see how KK’s percentage looks after 60 attempts. Conversely, no way Ash can penetrate and break a defense down like KK. What a formidable and complementary duo. The fact that they are both so unselfish makes them a joy to watch.
 
We can look at stats all we want, but the bottom line is that we have two fantastic freshmen who have entirely different games, and that is what makes them so valuable. It's funny saying this after what happened last year, but we don't need another point guard. We need a shooter, a work horse, a player who isn't afraid to mix it up with opponents. Ashlynn and KK complement each other, and comparing stats don't show the real value of these two players. They both will be great doing exactly what they are doing now, and the differences between the two will make them a lethal twosome in the next 3 years for us.
 
So KK was doing one of the player pressers yesterday when she was asked an interesting question, “Do you and Ashlynn have a friendly wager as to who’s going to be Big East Rookie of the week?” Wiser than her years, KK just laughed and said, “We just play hard and congratulate each other.”
 
CL82 said:
Oh, we all have an answer to that, we just don't say it.
Expand ...
arsenio2.jpg
 
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A few things have surprised me on this thread:
1. This is a "fun thread inquiry" with no wrong answer as it is simply an opinion on January 9 (the day it was posted) yet many of the BYers are acting all defensive and taking the fun out of it (per usual).
2. The huge disparity in votes between Ash and KK has me very confused as KK has won the BE FOW award 4 times to Ash's 3. I would have thought the vote would have been closer.
3. Everyone gets so serious on these threads instead of enjoying the journey. Thank you for the thread @oldude much appreciated!
 
DefenseBB said:
A few things have surprised me on this thread:
1. This is a "fun thread inquiry" with no wrong answer as it is simply an opinion on January 9 (the day it was posted) yet many of the BYers are acting all defensive and taking the fun out of it (per usual).
2. The huge disparity in votes between Ash and KK has me very confused as KK has won the BE FOW award 4 times to Ash's 3. I would have thought the vote would have been closer.
3. Everyone gets so serious on these threads instead of enjoying the journey. Thank you for the thread @oldude much appreciated!
Expand ...
Only #2 surprised me a bit. But then I thought about it, and yea, shouldn't have been surprised.
 
maccca3232 said:
View attachment 94898
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This race might not be "the tortoise vs the hare" (Aesop), but we know who is the "hare", as in " very speedy ".
As the fable tells us we can't predict a winner from the start of a race........ The other Head Coaches vote
for this award. Maybe some vote by statistics.... others vote, perhaps, on who caused them the most Headache!
Bring on the aspirin!
 
darkstar1 said:
They are both deserving for sure, but stats are deceptive, especially when viewed cumulatively. I based my choice on what I am seeing now.
Expand ...
Some Head Coaches look beyond the stat line... this award will be a fair combination of stat and intangibles ( whatever that
means to you!) I was interested to read the comments in the thread about the history of "co-freshman of the year
awards" in the past. I guess we don't have to pick which "child" (with all due respect to these young women) is our "favorite child" for FPOY!! I change my vote to " Co-Player "!!
 
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MooseJaw said:
I concede the point on the steals and the importance that they represent. Yes KK is a gnat when she is after the ball while being the quickest player on team UCONN. My point on Ash, she is very often defending players in the front court, players often much bigger and taller than her. Wining many more matchups than not. I guess it comes down to what impresses you most, both are tenacious and unafraid both outplaying most of their matchups. It comes down to what impresses you most.
I take your numbers at face value, and they are impressive. I am more of a gut feeling type of analyzing fan. I love watching both our jaguar KK and our Humvee Ash. Both are Huskies, include Q and it shows just how amazing our freshman class is. Take your pick on which is better. I respect your pick on this post and your incredible BB IQ. It's fun for me to debate these questions with you and other BY legends. Hat's off.
Expand ...
I think opposing Big East H. C.s are " gut feeling types ". Which freshman Husky put their "GUTS" into KNOTS!
 
Zarathustra said:
I think opposing Big East H. C.s are " gut feeling types ". Which freshman Husky put their "GUTS" into KNOTS!
Expand ...
I think in the last game against the Friars, that the gut-wrenching player was KK, with Ash close behind. I see or feel that to this point that KK is meeting expectations while Ash is exceeding expectations. Opposing coaches, choose your poison. In different games one or the other will knot your guts, yep either or both. I enjoy watching Ash just slightly more. ;)
 
Clearly they should both win. There is precedent in the Big East for Co-players of the year on the men's side. Also 92-93 co rookies on the women's side. It's a no brainer.

P.S. Down one or two with 20 seconds to play. Im okay with KK driving for the game tying or winning score but equally okay with Ashlynn spotting up on the wing for KK to kick out to her for the win.
 
If we can be injury free for the rest of the year, we will have a good shot for the FF. With 2 freshmen in the starting lineup opposing coaches would ordinarily put their best defenders on Liya and Paige. Lucky for us, and maybe God is just throwing us a bone, but right now Ash and KK are scoring as well as the vets, so now the other team will have to guard them as tough as they do PB and AE. Not to mention the new Nika shooting more and making more. She still is playing great defense, and she is still finding assists. Against the Friars she had 13, while getting a few steals and scoring 10 points, all in the first half. But getting them in the first, it put the Friars on notice that she has to be guarded. So, the new Nika, the great play of the freshmen, all this gives Paige room to move around and hunt her shot. As I said, if we stay healthy for the rest of the reason our team will be one to watch vying for their 23 FF.
 
oldude said:
So KK was doing one of the player pressers yesterday when she was asked an interesting question, “Do you and Ashlynn have a friendly wager as to who’s going to be Big East Rookie of the week?” Wiser than her years, KK just laughed and said, “We just play hard and congratulate each other.”
Expand ...
Exactly,,,I'm sure each wouldn't mind winning, but really games come first and whatever happens with awards is a distant second,
 
Perceptions are hugely divergent. As @MooseJaw just stated where they feel KK is "meeting expectations" which I assume is based on her high recruiting Rank of #6 (Hoopgurlz AND Prospect Nation) whereas Ash was "exceeding expectations". Again, MooseJaw would have to further qualify how they defined "expectations" for Ash, but my assumption is also using rating which in Hoopgurlz was #15 but in Prospect Nation was #8. HG does use a number rating as well where KK was "97" and Ash was "96".

So yeah, to me the perception may be Ash is exceeding her expectations by many but looking at the rankings is it really THAT surprising that the #15/#8 recruit is performing as well as the #6/#6 recruit? That seems to me to be picking "the fly dung out of the pepper" meaning we are looking to separate something not that separable.

@Zarathustra made an interesting point as well about how each player played against a particular team. In the 5 Big East games, Ashlynn has earned higher Efficiency scores (Butler-15; Creighton-18; PC-22) whereas KK earned 2 (Georgetown-19; Marquette-9).

For the 5 Big East games Ash has a higher score of 15.6 to KK's 14.4, whereas on the season, KK has 14.1 to Ash's 10.9. The disparity comes from KK's much larger assists (49-21) and steal totals (44-10). But as noted, Ash has picked up the pace in the Big East games.

My thinking is Ash might not look like the typical baller but ranked #15/#8 is proof to anyone who watched her, saw a highly skilled player worthy of McDonald's AA accolades and Team USA invites. Both are doing exactly what we need and more will be expected if we want to get back to the Final Four.
 
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