Megan Walker - 25 minutes, 19 points, looked good. A redwood is emerging from the seedling.

[xoxxox]

I am fully confident, that by next December, the latest, Geno will be lavishing the same praise, or at least, nearly the same praise as he did this year on the unbelievable progress of Crystal Dangerfield. Megan Walker was never suppose to be a star this year. Yes, like many great UCONN players, her freshman year is a work in progress. However, next year is the real start of her career at UCONN. And with the cast that will surround her - it is going to be fun to watch a team with three number one picks and Z playing together.

 

[BigBird]

I also like what I saw. We’ll know more as the quality of competition escalates.

 

[DEpup]

What I really liked was in the 4th you could tell she was acting as a leader for the rest of the bench in addition to making shots.

 

[LasVegasYank]

She was only two rebounds shy of a double double.

 

[Carnac]

I am fully confident, that by next December, the latest, Geno will be lavishing the same praise, or at least, nearly the same praise as he did this year on the unbelievable progress of Crystal Dangerfield. Megan Walker was never suppose to be a star this year. Yes, like many great UCONN players, her freshman year is a work in progress. However, next year is the real start of her career at UCONN. And with the cast that will surround her - it is going to be fun to watch a team with three number one picks and Z playing together.

Geno had to be pleased with a lot of things he saw today. Her performance had to be one of them.

 

[JoePgh]

Speaking of freshmen who have been bench players and occasional doghouse dwellers this year, did everyone notice that Mikayla Coombs was on the UConn bench in street clothes cheering for the team? I didn’t notice that until I watched the replay. I wonder if she will travel to Albany and even Columbus.

 

[Vowelguy]

Speaking of freshmen who have been bench players and occasional doghouse dwellers this year, did everyone notice that Mikayla Coombs was on the UConn bench in street clothes cheering for the team? I didn’t notice that until I watched the replay. I wonder if she will travel to Albany and even Columbus.

Coombs is injured with DVT and out for rest of season. I would assume she will be in Albany and Columbus unless her condition prevents it.

 

[ASweet3781]

Hoping Megan can build off of this. She certainly looked like a player who could be used to give a rest to Gabby or Pheesa should they get worn down against a big team or in foul trouble.

 

[donalddoowop]

She got a taste of the future when she will be running things on the court and taking charge.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Coombs is injured with DVT and out for rest of season. I would assume she will be in Albany and Columbus unless her condition prevents it.

She may not be permitted, at this stage of the drug treatment, to fly, so she could do land but she's like one of older types here with sttting too long, no matter the mode of transportation. I wonder if they've installed a filter?

 

[itsasport]

Redwoods take way to long to grow up. She would need 1000 years of eligibility.

How about a pine tree?

 

[Shorty Dee]

Megan played amazing today. She looked like she was comfortable out there. Megan was having fun, and not thinking as much.

 

[Bronx23]

I am fully confident, that by next December, the latest, Geno will be lavishing the same praise, or at least, nearly the same praise as he did this year on the unbelievable progress of Crystal Dangerfield. Megan Walker was never suppose to be a star this year. Yes, like many great UCONN players, her freshman year is a work in progress. However, next year is the real start of her career at UCONN. And with the cast that will surround her - it is going to be fun to watch a team with three number one picks and Z playing together.

You may well be right but this also maybe some wishful thinking.
Let's see her put in all the work needed to make it happen and then give her all the props she deserves.
Yes she had a excellent game but it was against St Francis of Pa and they played right into MW and the U Conn teams hands.
Bronx23

 

[huskyrob1]

Hoping Megan can build off of this. She certainly looked like a player who could be used to give a rest to Gabby or Pheesa should they get worn down against a big team or in foul trouble.

Most important, this game helped her confidence a lot, and maybe in the confidence Geno and CD have in putting her in off the bench first or second. If that happens this team goes up several notches in strength.

 

[LasVegasYank]

<<She was only two rebounds shy of a double double.>>

I forgot to mention that mostly all of her rebounds this year were of the "that's my ball" type rather than the typical "look what I found" type. She works for her boards, in other words.

 

[my2cents]

Megan Walker is a future All American.
When she gets in a game with the starters, she defers to them and is not aggressive on the offensive end. Her "bad" games were when she went 0-2 from the field, didn't have her hands up on defense, or didn't call out a screen. In other words, people were very picky about were so called mistakes.
She is a cutter and slasher with the ball and that style needs to be worked into the passing UConn offense.
Most, if not all her issues, seemed to result of not meeting expectations in practice, which no one outside the program was in a position to comment on. It was not the result of poor play in games.

 

[Longtime fan]

Coombs is injured with DVT and out for rest of season. I would assume she will be in Albany and Columbus unless her condition prevents it.

I will just point out that flying is something one does not do with this condition.

However, Columbus is reachable by car, etc.

 

[Vowelguy]

I will just point out that flying is something one does not do with this condition.

However, Columbus is reachable by car, etc.

I thought the issue is more sitting in one place and not moving around. I would assume that's less of an issue on a charter flight.

 

[Bronx23]

I just don't understand how carried away most posters in the thread have gotten because MW had a very good game against a #16 seed that was beaten by 88 points.
While hopefully this improves her confidence, and makes her less likely to defer when she plays with the first team, it will truly indicate something when she does it in 3-4 consecutive games against better competition.
She was the top player in HS last year, so shouldn't she be much better than everyone on St Francis' team. We knew that already.
Crowning her a leader on the floor and an AA next year, I'm sorry to say is a bit grandiose.
I don't doubt she has an enormous amount of potential. When I see her having a performance resembling this against SC possibly in an elite 8 game or in the final four I will gladly eat crow, until then I will crow against these over reactions.
Bronx23

 

[Rocket009]

Redwoods take way to long to grow up. She would need 1000 years of eligibility.

How about a pine tree?

Redwoods are like weeds and can easily grow from nothing to 10ft in a year. They are one of the fastest growing trees on the planet. I have a lot of them in the yard, so keeping them under control requires a chain saw to prevent them from spreading, blocking all the light, clogging all external drains and damaging the house.

 

[Vowelguy]

Unfortunately no carryover from Sat. I dont think MW came in until the 4th and she had a TO, an airball, .... Was hoping shed be able to continue to build confidence.

 

[ASweet3781]

Unfortunately no carryover from Sat. I dont think MW came in until the 4th and she had a TO, an airball, .... Was hoping shed be able to continue to build confidence.

Funny how she is forced to contribute playing most mins with Kyla, Molly, Camara, and Lexi.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Funny how she is forced to contribute playing most mins with Kyla, Molly, Camara, and Lexi.

That's a good point.

I know Geno's resume is impeccable and all that. I've seen a number of coaches across the country put up with some mistakes from Fr. players early in the year and now some of them are very big contributors for their teams. Kiana Williams from Stanford is one in particular that really stands out. She was a train wreck at the beginning of the season, now she's a stud and might even be their best player.

 

[donalddoowop]

Walker came in before the fourth quarter. She did not score but she did not hurt the team, gave a starter some rest, and got some game experience.

 

[DEpup]

Yeah I thought she was good with the starters. Played her role. If I had something to say I would have liked some leadership when she was left on the floor with the bench.

 

[Bronx23]

The wishful thinking and unrealistic interpretations of MW and her play continually amaze me.
She came into the game with the starters and she did nothing. She plays with the subs and did nothing. In HS she was easily the best player on her team and excelled. Why shouldn't she be able to do the same now. While Q played a really good game and did all they could, they are steps below U Conn on a skill level. I'm amazed MW can't exploit this.
Some here are still blaming Geno for his handling of her yet they love the 11 championships and the program and culture he built. Folks you can't have it both ways!! She won't and shouldn't play much more (barring an injury or foul trouble) and she hasn't earned it.
I'm so tired of the cheerleading and pampering that I hear mostly about poor MW.
She needs to continue to be held to those high standards and expectations and when she does meet them, she not only will play more,she will play much better.
Redwoods, stardom, AA status are not in the cards right now. Maybe down the road, I hope!
Bronx23

 

[VivaLsVgs]

Ouch....someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed! I agree that her 19 point game should be placed in context with the opponent and the pace of the game, but “pampering” is not something I see people doing on here. Most just want to see her succeed and play well. It seems that many of us on The Boneyard acknowledge that she’s had a rough freshman season and did not adjust to the rigors of the college game like some would have hoped. We have 4 games left at the most and my hopes for MW are that she can contribute and cap off the year with the National Championship. No one believes she is going to miraculously become Chennedy Carter in the tournament.

 

[Iowafan61]

Well in the same token the sophmores and point gaurd could be leader as well

 

[HuskylnSC]

No one believes she is going to miraculously become Chennedy Carter in the tournament.

And I hope she never becomes Chennedy Carter. The amount of success she has achieved playing as a one player gang will make it incredibly difficult for her to merge into the high assist team concept that has become UConn. I firmly believe MW and MC and LG will all become the great team players that make the UConn engine go on for a while longer

 

[SVCBeercats]

I am fully confident, that by next December, the latest, Geno will be lavishing the same praise, or at least, nearly the same praise as he did this year on the unbelievable progress of Crystal Dangerfield. Megan Walker was never suppose to be a star this year. Yes, like many great UCONN players, her freshman year is a work in progress. However, next year is the real start of her career at UCONN. And with the cast that will surround her - it is going to be fun to watch a team with three number one picks and Z playing together.

After the Quinnipiac game how confident are you? There were more than enough Boneyard folks in November believing Walker would star this season. Back pedaling? How many seasons will you say "work in progress" and wait next season she will start up? When she consistently plays well I will believe it. It will be interesting to see if next season's frosh pressure this season's frosh for playing time. Yo Walker, macht schnell, macht schnell!