Megan Walker Goes Pro [merged thread] | Page 7 | The Boneyard

Megan Walker Goes Pro [merged thread]

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I am shocked, shocked to hear about Megan Walker going pro. Where are my winnings? Thank you very much. Well, xxxxxxxxxxxxx happens. Lot's of potential for next year. Just like this year, lot's of folks will put on their big girl pants and take leadership roles for the team. For Geno, no problem.
 
CocoHusky said:
Not suggesting that GENO scour anything! Geno can just wait in his office for those "impact players" you mentioned previously to give him a call. Maybe they already have. Or he can have one of the current players send out a tweet for walkons like Stewie had to. Unless those walkons would be too much competition for some of the existing players.
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Any potential transfer will be looking at competing for PT with Liv, Aaliyah, Aubrey, Evina, Christyn, Anna, Paige & Nika, at a minimum. I seriously doubt Geno’s phone will be ringing off the hook.
 
CocoHusky said:
Was she truly going to reach her "potential" playing another year at UCONN?
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Good point Coco, I sort of had the feeling that she might have maxed out this season. Not sour grapes. It's just that she is the perfect example of a "tweener". Can't see her as speedy enough or that great a ball handler to play guard and she doesn't have the size or mobility to go against the "trees" in WNBA.
 
I think the bottom line with the most recent group of college players is that they are much different psychologically than their predecessors. Geno talked all season long about the players being different and adaptation and that is why he called more sets on offense even with Crystal out there than ever before. Remember Crystal telling Geno the offense doesn't know the plays and that we couldn't run them. That is inconceivable in the Lobo, Taurasi, Moore, or Stewart eras. This move by Walker is symptomatic of that change in their constitutional make up. Anyone advising her would tell her that she is not going to be able to post up either in the WNBA or in Europe. She is 6'1" tall. Anyone advising her would tell her that her defense needs work unless all those times she didn't dive on the floor or take the charge( can't remember a single one where she did) was because she knew she was going and wanted to avoid injury. Anyone advising her would also tell her she needs a mid range game with a true pull up jump shot which CW has, but she doesn't. Not all players make the right decision by going pro early. There are plenty of NBA has beens trying to coach high school out there. She had her own agenda as did Stevens and it is hard for me to ever consider her as a UCONN great for that reason. Someone said there was nothing else for her to achieve. I couldn't disagree more. How about the true measures of greatness at UCONN - Naismith, Wooden, National Champion? She leaves with none of them. They didn't matter to her as we found out today. I often wondered why in most games she just seemed to let up and not score after she got her "average". I thought originally it was unselfishness. Now I think it was selfishness.
 
oldude said:
Any potential transfer will be looking at competing for PT with Liv, Aaliyah, Aubrey, Evina, Christyn, Anna, Paige & Nika, at a minimum. I seriously doubt Geno’s phone will be ringing off the hook.
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If he's looking at a frontcourt player---which is the glaring hole--- you can narrow that list down to about ONO and Aubrey.
 
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This is just my own feeling, but I think she had made up her mind awhile ago. If she waited to declare for the draft and they cancel the WNBA season, she would have no good reason to leave Uconn. Maybe she was done with college ball. She had to do it now or that would have been really awkward. We will likely never know. I wish her the best of luck and truly hope she does well.
 
CocoHusky said:
Betrayal? A kid is about to realize her dream and you see betrayal. PLEASE GET A GRIP!
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The 1st few seconds -- absolutely. Remember this is a game for many of us. So for a few seconds as human beings we are allowed to be a little selfish (i.e fan is for fanatic.). Then whether it it is seconds or whatever you feel happiness for her and glad you had a chance to watch her play and represent the school terrifically. Unfortunately to some fans it is championship or bust. Not for most of us however.
 
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I guess I look at this through the prism of how did it work out for Azura Stevens when she decided to forgo a final year of development at UConn and a very good chance at a national championship to leave for the WNBA. And my view is, not really all that well; she just kind of disappeared into the league, and I don't see her on a glidepath to ever becoming a marquee player in the pros.

That's why I thought Megan would stay. There is just something about being drafted into the WNBA as a senior who led her UConn team to a national championship. It brings with it certain intangibles, a prestige that can do to a lot to backstop a career for the longer term. That's a lot to pass up, in my opinion.
 
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oldude said:
Aaliyah will absolutely be in the regular rotation next year, assuming she doesn’t earn the starting PF job. She is that good.
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There is no bigger fan of Edwards than me, but that's a bit of a romantic theory. Megan Walker, Gabby Williams, Napheesa Collier, ONO, Morgan Tuck.....How many freshmen have made splashes much less started? Very, very few.
 
JBK said:
Agreed.
She did get better each year, but just never seemed like she was having fun and enjoying the game. I think playing at UCONN brings incredible pressure both physically and more mentally. I do not think many players appreciate it until they age, mature and look back at what Geno was trying to accomplish. She may be a top 10 pick this year, and who knows - may have moved up just a few slots next year .
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I thought she was POY candidate next year.
 
hoopsfan22 said:
How many other teams in America will have two #1 recruits on their roster next season?
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Slight change. I believe at least one rating service had Evina ranked ahead of Megan. So next year UConn will have three #1 recruits.
 
Plebe said:
On this point, UConn really needs a great season from Evina next year. Not only for the obvious reasons, but in this changing WCBB landscape Geno needs to show that a transfer can have success on his team.

The times they are a'changin'
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Agree. Auriemma knows what he needs and with the immediate eligibility I believe he'd only take an impact player for that reason and yours.
 
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Sluconn Husky said:
There is no bigger fan of Edwards than me, but that's a bit of a romantic theory. Megan Walker, Gabby Williams, Napheesa Collier, ONO, Morgan Tuck.....How many freshmen have made splashes much less started? Very, very few.
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I disagree with you very often but on this point i agree.

I recognize however you and others know Edwards very well. I am just reluctant to believe until I see her play more.

UCONN will be very good next year.
 
Deuce said:
Stand pat with 10 players? Sorry but I 100% disagree and in fact I think this would be borderline negligent. 2 injuries and a freshman in GA’s doghouse and you now essentially have 7 players would better not get into foul trouble. Look at ND this past season you have to prepare for everything and unfortunately that includes AEH and EDD type transfers where they show up on campus then bolt after a few weeks.

You fill as many scholarships with your type players as you can and don’t worry about PT or making players happy or loyalty for the sake of it...especially in today’s landscape.
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Very much agree with @Deuce after watching four bigs 6'3" to 6'9" either not be cleared to play or suffer season-ending injuries this past season for Oregon State.

Better to carry an extra body on the bench who could help in the event of injury than wish you had when an unexpected injury impacts a core player, let alone a starter or two.

The transfer portal can be UConn's friend. Lots of quality grad transfers will be out there that would be happy to spend their final year at UConn.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
There is no bigger fan of Edwards than me, but that's a bit of a romantic theory. Megan Walker, Gabby Williams, Napheesa Collier, ONO, Morgan Tuck.....How many freshmen have made splashes much less started? Very, very few.
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After watching Aaliyah against the US National team, it’s hardly a romantic theory. Aaliyah mixed it up with the best players in the world and held her own like she belongs. As for how many freshmen make splashes, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten the season that just ended and the contributions from Anna & Aubrey, or the season before that and the contributions of Christyn and....,,
 
Charliebball said:
some think that the freshman point guard from Minnesota will be very much that kind of player...........
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That would be nice if she could bring a Jamelle Elliot type attitude but that is difficult for a freshman. Wish they had one now.
 
Plebe said:
On this point, UConn really needs a great season from Evina next year. Not only for the obvious reasons, but in this changing WCBB landscape Geno needs to show that a transfer can have success on his team.

The times they are a'changin'
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If he gets Fudd- no he doesn't.
 
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oldude said:
Just to be clear, UConn somehow managed this season with only 9 players, and UConn has never filled all their available scholarships. The other real problem with bringing in transfers is that it shortchanges the players who are already there while sending a mixed message.
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Bringing in transfers tells the returning players a clear message...that college sports is a competitive business and that all players must get better to earn playing time. Competition brings out the best in elite competitors. Don't worry about hurt feelings. Players will transfer if feel that they need to do so to play. The players are given
a chance to earn a degree. There should be no promise of playing time.
 
hoophuskee said:
The 1st few seconds -- absolutely. Remember this is a game for many of us. So for a few seconds as human beings we are allowed to be a little selfish (i.e fan is for fanatic.). Then whether it it is seconds or whatever you feel happiness for her and glad you had a chance to watch her play and represent the school terrifically. Unfortunately to some fans it is championship or bust. Not for most of us however.
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Not for even one second will I EVER accept that word (betrayal) as it relates to Megan decision to go to the WNBA. Megan did not turn her back on UCONN and go suit up for another college team. This young lady simply took an opportunity to realize a dream for which she has worked very hard. Megan announcements thanked her teammates, coaches, and fans. For fans not to reciprocate Megan's thanks is not selfish, it is crass, unkind and Volnation-like.
 
Really no point in guessing about next year's rosters until the NCAA makes some announcements especially concerning the 5th year of eligibility for 2020 seniors IF there is a next season, possible transfer rule changes, if there is an WNBA draft and season, how that plays out in regards to the current pro level seniors, etc., etc.

But hey, good luck to Megan and time to cancel next year's trip to Charlottesville and instead schedule a quality ACC opponent, like Duke.
 
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