Maya and Sarah's first 20 games compared

[PvP]

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 330 344 Both have begun to score more on a game-by-game basis

Rebounds 136 154 Sarah leads by just over 10%

Assists 71 74 Essentially identical

Steals 30 46 Sarah leads by over 50%

Blocks 29 21 Maya's only clear lead

Turnovers 42 31 Sarah leads by over 30%

Personal Fouls 35 28 Sarah leads by over 20%

With roughly half the season in the books, the numbers favor Sarah in nearly every category.

 

[Rowdy831]

The thing I remember about Maya when she was young (and it didn't change) was she was clutch. When she needed to make a shot, it went in, when she needed a stop she got. Her play elevated when the game called for it and the bigger the game the more you could rely on her to make the play.

 

[Jonathan14]

I feel so fortunate to be witnessing Sarah's stellar freshman season, just as I felt so fortunate to witness Maya's. Sarah also seems to share Maya's humble demeanor and work ethic. I imagine that if and when she contemplates these numbers, she will recognize what an honor it is to be compared to such an extraordinary basketball player and human being!

 

[Bone Dog]

Fascinating comparison.

One thing to consider is that Sarah has the advantage of playing with Paige.

 

[DennieEddy]

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 330 344 Both have begun to score more on a game-by-game basis

Rebounds 136 154 Sarah leads by just over 10%

Assists 71 74 Essentially identical

Steals 30 46 Sarah leads by over 50%

Blocks 29 21 Maya's only clear lead

Turnovers 42 31 Sarah leads by over 30%

Personal Fouls 35 28 Sarah leads by over 20%

With roughly half the season in the books, the numbers favor Sarah in nearly every category.

If Sarah leads in turnovers & personal fouls, aren't those negative "leads"?

Who has the 42 turnovers & who have the 35 personal fouls?

 

[ConnMotors]

Maya had a pretty good cast on teammates as well.

Rene Montgomery - Junior
Charde Houston - Senior
Mel Thomas - Senior
Tina Charles - Sophomore
Kalana Greene - Junior
Brittany Hunter - Senior

 

[hookshot]

If Sarah leads in turnovers & personal fouls, aren't those negative "leads"?

Who has the 42 turnovers & who have the 35 personal fouls?

Maya / Sarah

 

[bantamlaker]

The thing I remember about Maya when she was young (and it didn't change) was she was clutch. When she needed to make a shot, it went in, when she needed a stop she got. Her play elevated when the game called for it and the bigger the game the more you could rely on her to make the play.

Sarah is having a great freshman season and now will have a chance to really prove herself in the next few weeks against Tennessee and SCarolina and then in the tournament. I think Sarah has the talent not only to make big plays but to take over a game if needed the way Maya could. We shall soon find out.

 

[BBallF]

The thing I remember about Maya when she was young (and it didn't change) was she was clutch. When she needed to make a shot, it went in, when she needed a stop she got. Her play elevated when the game called for it and the bigger the game the more you could rely on her to make the play.

At least that's how we remember it. I certainly do. The test will be the Big East tourney and then the Big Dance. Watch the Tennessee and SC games too. You know she has that in her. It's just matter of when.

 

[Blond D.]

I think after a spring and summer, also with it being her second year as a Huskie and knowing what it takes to play college basketball, Sarah will come back a little leaner, a little stronger and a bit faster. That in itself is scary.

 

[PJCLaw]

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 330 344 Both have begun to score more on a game-by-game basis

Rebounds 136 154 Sarah leads by just over 10%

Assists 71 74 Essentially identical

Steals 30 46 Sarah leads by over 50%

Blocks 29 21 Maya's only clear lead

Turnovers 42 31 Sarah leads by over 30%

Personal Fouls 35 28 Sarah leads by over 20%

With roughly half the season in the books, the numbers favor Sarah in nearly every category.

The difference is the eye test. MM had a more dominant personality and played that way, ran the floor slightly better, was more athletic and overall had a killer mentality from her freshman year. SS is much more reserved, though no less effective just in a different way. Overall, she is the closest I have seen to MM in the 30 years I have been a fan! How lucky are we to have experienced a Rebecca, Precious, Big girl, Jennifer, Jamelle, Svet, Shea, Swin, Sue, DT, Renee, Tina, MM, KML, Stewie, MoJeff, Tuck, Gabby, Pheesa, KLS, PB, and now SS in those 30 years (no disrespect to those I failed to mention).

 

[donalddoowop]

I think after a spring and summer, also with it being her second year as a Huskie and knowing what it takes to play college basketball, Sarah will come back a little leaner, a little stronger and a bit faster. That in itself is scary.

And a lot better!

 

[uconnfan68]

Maya Sarah Comments

Points 330 344 Both have begun to score more on a game-by-game basis

Rebounds 136 154 Sarah leads by just over 10%

Assists 71 74 Essentially identical

Steals 30 46 Sarah leads by over 50%

Blocks 29 21 Maya's only clear lead

Turnovers 42 31 Sarah leads by over 30%

Personal Fouls 35 28 Sarah leads by over 20%

With roughly half the season in the books, the numbers favor Sarah in nearly every category.

Maya didn’t have Paige, or Azzi, or Kaitlyn.

 

[diggerfoot]

I earlier stated that, though I think Strong might surpass Moore in productivity, that would be a bad sign. Since then there have been three developments to help prove me wrong. Our shooting percentage has gone up, the opponents shooting percentage has gone down and we are playing at a faster pace. Together that means Strong’s productivity is not coming at the expense of the team’s as a whole.

I still would like to see further post development, but things are looking great right now for both Strong and her teammates.

 

[packwrap]

At least that's how we remember it. I certainly do. The test will be the Big East tourney and then the Big Dance. Watch the Tennessee and SC games too. You know she has that in her. It's just matter of when.

SCs leading scorer now is Sarah's freshman rival Joyce Edwards, coming right now off the bench. Just in case Sarah needed any extra motivation.

 

[PvP]

If Sarah leads in turnovers & personal fouls, aren't those negative "leads"?

Who has the 42 turnovers & who have the 35 personal fouls?

By "leading" I always mean having the better number. So leading in points is having more points while leading in turnovers or personal fouls means having less than the other player.

 

[Skeets]

The thing I remember about Maya when she was young (and it didn't change) was she was clutch. When she needed to make a shot, it went in, when she needed a stop she got. Her play elevated when the game called for it and the bigger the game the more you could rely on her to make the play.

Yeah, same with Taurasi. At the end of the game with 3 seconds on the clock, down by 1, who do you want taking the last shot? DT, although Maya would be a good choice too. I should probably add Paige to the discussion...

Now having said that, this is a little unfair because we are remembering 4 year players versus a 1/2 year player. Sarah has plenty of time to prove her "clutch-ness".

 

[yhun89]

And people tried to tell me that after Paige leaves, we've got nothing.

 

[meyers7]

Maya didn’t have Paige, or Azzi, or Kaitlyn.

But as noted, Moore had Montgomery and Charles.

 

[oldude]

I love these comparisons between former and future UConn greats. Yes Sarah has Paige, but Maya had Tina, one of the best centers in the history of WBB, who opened up a lot of space for Maya to do her thing.

One additional comment on Sarah and Paige. I have never seen 2 players, who have played together for just 18 games, who are more completely in sync with each other on the court. Sarah & Paige seem to know instinctively where each other will be on the court, when and where to pass the ball to them and how to dominate opponents playing a 2-man game.

The closest comparison I can think of is Lou & Pheesa, who not only played together for 4 seasons in college, but started playing together both on national teams and 3x3 tournaments when they were still in HS.

 

[Bone Dog]

Sarah & Paige seem to know instinctively where each other will be on the court, when and where to pass the ball to them and how to dominate opponents playing a 2-man game.

This reminds me of that comical moment in the SHU game when Paige and Sarah passed the ball to each other across the court three times. It just looked like no one could stop either one from finding the other. And it shows how much they trust each other.

 

[CL82]

SCs leading scorer now is Sarah's freshman rival Joyce Edwards, coming right now off the bench. Just in case Sarah needed any extra motivation.

That is going to be a great game. It will be a big statement as to whether the gains we see are illusory, largely based upon our opponents.

 

[PvP]

The difference is the eye test. MM had a more dominant personality and played that way, ran the floor slightly better, was more athletic and overall had a killer mentality from her freshman year. SS is much more reserved, though no less effective just in a different way. Overall, she is the closest I have seen to MM in the 30 years I have been a fan! How lucky are we to have experienced a Rebecca, Precious, Big girl, Jennifer, Jamelle, Svet, Shea, Swin, Sue, DT, Renee,ITina, MM, KML, Stewie, MoJeff, Tuck, Gabby, Pheesa, KLS, PB, and now SS in those 30 years (no disrespect to those I failed to mention).

I would add one player who, in only one year, to me at least, was so dedicated and in fact gave so much of herself for our Huskies that, again, she has never been the same since. I think everyone who is here will immediately understand I am speaking of Lou Lopez Senechal. Geno said he had never seen someone so beaten up, so black and blue, from how our opponents were able to double and triple and so on team her because we just didn't have the normal supporting cast around her. He also said that he could not imagine what our team would have looked like if we didn't have Lou who was an ultimate gamer. She fought for us despite what was happening to her body which was sufficient such that she was not able to play a single game in the next season in the W despite being selected in the top 5. Even to this day, she has not been able to recapture the magic and this past season with Dallas was merely an afterthought. I believe she gave us everything she had, and we need to not forget her for that.

 

[uconnfan68]

But as noted, Moore had Montgomery and Charles.

Sophomore Tina wasn't All-American Tina. Renee wasn't Paige. Maya had to do a lot on her own.

 

[Geew1992]

Maya didn’t have Paige, or Azzi, or Kaitlyn.

No she had Tina and Renee