Megan Walker

[Sakibomb25]

I thought Strother had Jess Moore, Wil Crockett and Brittany Hunter in the post when she played at UConn.

Hunter never really played at UConn because of a pre-existing injury from Duke. Didn't Moore do a redshirt year for one of the years? And Crockett was a solid player, but one player can't play two positions

 

[PhillyCoach]

In the UCONN program, the impactfulness of a player is largely determined by the player herself. You earn minutes if you practice well. The more minutes you earn, the more meaningful those minutes become, and the more potential there is that you can make an impact. The system is entirely merits based, independent of your ranking. MW is the number one recruit in her class. To argue that she has not been impactful so far because she has not been needed to be impactful seems to me to turn logical thinking on its head.

Geno himself has expressed his frustration with the benchers on multiple occasions, and at least on one occasion explicitly refuted the idea that he did not need a deeper bench; in fact, he stated quite the opposite: he needed the bench to contribute. If MW had earn Geno's trust, I could easily have imagined that he would have inserted her earlier in many games and for longer stretches of time, but he elected not to do so. In one blow out game, he even went so far as to not play her at all to send a message.

I think highly of MW's talents; she was not ranked number one for no reason. With the kind of coaching that is available to her at UCONN, her potential is literally limitless. What she does with that potential and how she impacts the team rest largely in her own hands.

Hello Mister2 - You make a solid point that the impact is largely determined by the player. Agree with Merit based all the way.
You were right when Geno stated the bench was driving him nuts. In that regard IMHO he was looking for improvement and especially consistency. Let's agree that it is very difficult to follow Geno's system (new to most benchers), play with frosh and other benchers, and then have an impact on a game where you are 40 points ahead. Geno changes the style when the lead is humongous.
In addition, there is necessary requirement (IMO) of a pressure game/close game/ or even behind in the game where impact is called for. Who gets bumped out of the top 6 so Megan can be impactful? Who does not practice with the starters-plus Z- so Megan can earn pressure game time? Answer - it is not there. This is not turning logical thin king on its head. It is a fact.
When you are the 7th player you are basically limited. Megan is not going to take the ball out of Lou's hands, Z hands, Crystal's hands. Megan is not going to bump Kia or Gabby off the hot shooter from the other team. This team did not need a 5th starter like Lou or Kia filled. This team did not need a 6th man either. And to think that Megan could learn the new system, deal with the HS to college transition, and then take Z's spot, or anyone else's spot is a pipe dream. NO ONE had that expectation because it wasn't needed.
Lots of good points Mister2. Just don't agree with all of them. Have a good evening.

 

[Sargassoc]

Hunter never really played at UConn because of a pre-existing injury from Duke.

I beg to differ. She played in 87 games, scoring 464 points for the Huskies, shooting 55.9 percent from the field. She was a big part of of UConn's 2007-08 Final Four team. She couldn't practice regularly, but the coaching (and athletic training) staff clearly figured out a way for her to be productive.

 

[Mister2]

Hello Mister2 - You make a solid point that the impact is largely determined by the player. Agree with Merit based all the way.
You were right when Geno stated the bench was driving him nuts. In that regard IMHO he was looking for improvement and especially consistency. Let's agree that it is very difficult to follow Geno's system (new to most benchers), play with frosh and other benchers, and then have an impact on a game where you are 40 points ahead. Geno changes the style when the lead is humongous.
In addition, there is necessary requirement (IMO) of a pressure game/close game/ or even behind in the game where impact is called for. Who gets bumped out of the top 6 so Megan can be impactful? Who does not practice with the starters-plus Z- so Megan can earn pressure game time? Answer - it is not there. This is not turning logical thin king on its head. It is a fact.
When you are the 7th player you are basically limited. Megan is not going to take the ball out of Lou's hands, Z hands, Crystal's hands. Megan is not going to bump Kia or Gabby off the hot shooter from the other team. This team did not need a 5th starter like Lou or Kia filled. This team did not need a 6th man either. And to think that Megan could learn the new system, deal with the HS to college transition, and then take Z's spot, or anyone else's spot is a pipe dream. NO ONE had that expectation because it wasn't needed.
Lots of good points Mister2. Just don't agree with all of them. Have a good evening.

PhillyCoach: I take your basic point that UCONN did not need to fill a 5th starter slot with MW as it did with Kia and KLS, and in that sense it has made life somewhat more difficult for MW. However, you can also look at it in a different way: how much more difficult life would have been for Kia and KLS had they not performed well enough to hang on to their starting roles. In the case of KLS, she was not the first choice for the 5th starter, not even the second choice if I remember correctly. I believe Geno first started Gabby, then Pheesa, then KLS. The competition for that 5th starter was intense. Had KLS not performed well in practice at the time, I doubt Geno would have hesitated at all to benching her.

You are also on point that, at critical moments in a close game, Geno is not going to sub out KLS (or any of the other 4+1 starters for that matter) for MW. However, even in close games there will often be stretches of time the 7th player could come in and make a significant contribution and impact the game. In other words, a player's impactfulness on the team does not depend on whether she has the starting role. A good example of that was Butler last season: she never started, but without her contributing the kind of meaningful minutes she had, UCONN would surely have lost a game or two in the regular season.

Ultimately, I think our disagreement is fairly small. You tend to put more emphasis on the circumstance a particular player faces; I tend to put more emphasis on the player's ability to alter that circumstance. I don't think my emphasis is asking too much of a top recruit.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Hunter never really played at UConn because of a pre-existing injury from Duke. Didn't Moore do a redshirt year for one of the years? And Crockett was a solid player, but one player can't play two positions

Yep, I remember Moore doing a redshirt. I just don't remember Strother playing post , I remember those three playing there at times during her time but that was awhile ago.

 

[Sakibomb25]

I beg to differ. She played in 87 games, scoring 464 points for the Huskies, shooting 55.9 percent from the field. She was a big part of of UConn's 2007-08 Final Four team. She couldn't practice regularly, but the coaching (and athletic training) staff clearly figured out a way for her to be productive.

The question wasn't whether Hunter was a productive or valuable member of the team. The question was why did Charde Houston play in the post. She was better than the three options that were listed - Hunter, Crockett and Moore.

 

[Sakibomb25]

Yep, I remember Moore doing a redshirt. I just don't remember Strother playing post , I remember those three playing there at times during her time but that was awhile ago.

Yea I remember Strother being more a three than anything else. It's been so long ago though that she could have played power forward as well. Someone with a better memory can probably chime in.

 

[CTrefugee]

The question wasn't whether Hunter was a productive or valuable member of the team. The question was why did Charde Houston play in the post. She was better than the three options that were listed - Hunter, Crockett and Moore.

One of my favorite UCONN memories. Our guards could not handle the press (I think it was Rutgers). Geno had our guards take their defenders out of the way and Charde brought the ball up court against the big guarding her. This happened repeatedly. My favorite Charde game.

 

[HuskyNan]

You only mentioned someone Gabby's size who was successful in the post.

BTW, Barbara was listed as a F/G for the 2003 Pan American Games team. Can't find any detail on her HS career.

East Tech's Turner named Ms. Basketball

 

[HuskyNan]

Yep, I remember Moore doing a redshirt. I just don't remember Strother playing post , I remember those three playing there at times during her time but that was awhile ago.

Jess Moore was in Diana’s recruiting class but redshirted because she was playing behind Swin, Asjha, and Tamika.

 

[JRRRJ]

East Tech's Turner named Ms. Basketball

Thanks, Nan. That shows she did have good guard skills before Geno converted her to a power forward.

 

[SVCBeercats]

MW looked more like 6'2 or slightly taller in recent team photo I saw recently. I remember seeing and thinking she looked to be right between Phees and KLS as far as height. I just can't remember where I saw the photo within the last week.

Scubadog until I read your post I was sure hallucinations were not a symptom of the "bends." See the picture below. Irwin is 6'2".

 

[donalddoowop]

Collier looks like she is taller than 6'1". She looks taller than Irwin and as tall as Batouly.

 

[uconnfan68]

East Tech's Turner named Ms. Basketball

She’s listed as 6’1” in that article. Must have been in stilettos.

 

[jdubct]

Yea I remember Strother being more a three than anything else. It's been so long ago though that she could have played power forward as well. Someone with a better memory can probably chime in.

She played the 3 almost always. She gamely played power forward for a few games when needed, but that clearly wasn't her strength.

 

[Bronx23]

I just read both Phillycoach & Misters2 back and forth and both make valid and valuable points. Ultimately I tend to side more with Mister2, as what concerns me more is MW hasn't even really, fully solidified her 7th spot. Yes, she is and seemingly all year has had that almost handed to her. (Almost like Wilson and the POY voting). There have been multiple times, games and minutes where Kyla, Molly or another sub got in before her. With her supposed talent level(which we truly have only seen glimpses of in over 30 games), surely says something. Exactly what it is is not fully clear even to knowledgeable and truly interested outsiders as those here. It must at least partially be her attitude. The point that most concerns me in many sports, wbb and U Conns ebb is a players mental preparedness and attitude. One of the best points made was about KLS not initially being the first choice for the 5th spot. KLS yes fulfilled a role as a freshman, as did Gabby & Pheesa, (which the available role now is much, much more limitedon this team for MW) but they each did all they could to fulfill that role and get that playing time. Each of them became so much better as sophomores and now juniors and seniors because of their amazing, relentless desire to be better. So far that hasn't been all that evident in MW. It seems her talent and athletic ability will shine through and she will make that sophomore leap and / or the light will go on but everyone's emotional / mental development and the adjustments that takes are very different. Time will tell with MW but all the cheerleading, good wishes and anticipating won't get it done.
One of the reasons I love KLS is her desire, willingness and amazing motivation to constantly become a better player and teammate. Even making AA as a sophomore and probably having been the 3rd best player on the team last year, what did she do. Seems to me, she committed her summer and this year to make major strides in rebounding both offensively and defensively, defensively and has somehow been able to improve her already quite good shooting and passing. Both Gabby, Pheesa and Kia demonstrate similar growth and desire in their areas that can be improved. Those are the role models, growth and development that MW needs to see, do and fully embrace to become first a major player on the team and before AA or NPOY should even be mentioned. That's what Gabbys comments and its implied criticism of the freshmen was addressing.
I don't personally appreciate all the good wishes, hyping up a player, pampering that goes on more today than before. Swallow your pride and get with it and ALL the very hard work that's going to be required every day until one graduates and well beyond, to achieve those lofty goals. I surely hope MW can and does do it, but so far it's truly unclear the outcome for her. She though does have the ultimate control and the key(s) to it happening and the how and when it does.
Bronx23

 

[CocoHusky]

I just read both Phillycoach & Misters2 back and forth and both make valid and valuable points. Ultimately I tend to side more with Mister2, as what concerns me more is MW hasn't even really, fully solidified her 7th spot. Yes, she is and seemingly all year has had that almost handed to her. (Almost like Wilson and the POY voting). There have been multiple times, games and minutes where Kyla, Molly or another sub got in before her. With her supposed talent level(which we truly have only seen glimpses of in over 30 games), surely says something. Exactly what it is is not fully clear even to knowledgeable and truly interested outsiders as those here. It must at least partially be her attitude. The point that most concerns me in many sports, wbb and U Conns ebb is a players mental preparedness and attitude. One of the best points made was about KLS not initially being the first choice for the 5th spot. KLS yes fulfilled a role as a freshman, as did Gabby & Pheesa, (which the available role now is much, much more limitedon this team for MW) but they each did all they could to fulfill that role and get that playing time. Each of them became so much better as sophomores and now juniors and seniors because of their amazing, relentless desire to be better. So far that hasn't been all that evident in MW. It seems her talent and athletic ability will shine through and she will make that sophomore leap and / or the light will go on but everyone's emotional / mental development and the adjustments that takes are very different. Time will tell with MW but all the cheerleading, good wishes and anticipating won't get it done.
One of the reasons I love KLS is her desire, willingness and amazing motivation to constantly become a better player and teammate. Even making AA as a sophomore and probably having been the 3rd best player on the team last year, what did she do. Seems to me, she committed her summer and this year to make major strides in rebounding both offensively and defensively, defensively and has somehow been able to improve her already quite good shooting and passing. Both Gabby, Pheesa and Kia demonstrate similar growth and desire in their areas that can be improved. Those are the role models, growth and development that MW needs to see, do and fully embrace to become first a major player on the team and before AA or NPOY should even be mentioned. That's what Gabbys comments and its implied criticism of the freshmen was addressing.
I don't personally appreciate all the good wishes, hyping up a player, pampering that goes on more today than before. Swallow your pride and get with it and ALL the very hard work that's going to be required every day until one graduates and well beyond, to achieve those lofty goals. I surely hope MW can and does do it, but so far it's truly unclear the outcome for her. She though does have the ultimate control and the key(s) to it happening and the how and when it does.
Bronx23

We are not be cheerleaders any more that you (much like Roger Clemens) are either misremembering, & understating KLS struggles as a Freshmen which were not that different from Megan Walker's.

The message was blunt.
"They kind of told me straight up, I wasn't playing hard enough, I didn't do enough of the little things and it had nothing to do with talent … I didn't talk enough," Samuelson said. "

Katie Lou Samuelson In The Spotlight: Learned The Game Is Harder At UConn

 

[scubadog]

Scubadog until I read your post I was sure hallucinations were not a symptom of the "bends." See the picture below. Irwin is 6'2".
View attachment 29245

Luckily I've never suffered from nitrogen narcosis. I can't remember where I saw the photo I described , and thought it was strange when I did. It's sure good to know there are so many truth watchdogs on this forum. We need a few in Washington.

 

[BobbyJ]

We are not be cheerleaders any more that you (much like Roger Clemens) are either misremembering, & understating KLS struggles as a Freshmen which were not that different from Megan Walker's.

The message was blunt.
"They kind of told me straight up, I wasn't playing hard enough, I didn't do enough of the little things and it had nothing to do with talent … I didn't talk enough," Samuelson said. "

Katie Lou Samuelson In The Spotlight: Learned The Game Is Harder At UConn

Yeah, some of these posters are making this whole Walker thing way more cryptic and complicated than I believe it is. If any kid has the high level talent, if they just do the little things consistently, they'll play. Simple as that.

 

[paisan]

Megan's a freshman, but more than that, even our seniors have good and bad shooting nights. Heck, Lou and Kia were both 1-6 from beyond the arc, and Kia only scored 5 points yet we aren't questioning if the light has gone on or off for them.

I do get it because Megan has had such an up and down season, and as some said, it remains to be seen what she can do against better competition. Keep in mind that even if Kia scores 0 points, her value is measured by what else she does, especially assists and defense. Megan is capable of playing really solid defense, and as Geno has stressed, "focus on what you do well" at this time of the season. I'm rooting for her!!

I believe Meg will be an exceptional. Player next year ...what a talent

 

[Bronx23]

We are not be cheerleaders any more that you (much like Roger Clemens) are either misremembering, & understating KLS struggles as a Freshmen which were not that different from Megan Walker's.

The message was blunt.
"They kind of told me straight up, I wasn't playing hard enough, I didn't do enough of the little things and it had nothing to do with talent … I didn't talk enough," Samuelson said. "

Katie Lou Samuelson In The Spotlight: Learned The Game Is Harder At UConn

One can look at KLS comments and one can find similarities in what KLS said then, and what MW says and feels now.
But I think any further comparison between those two players is a stretch at best, at least at this point comparing where they are almost entering the tournament of the freshman year.
KLS, Gabby & Pheesa competed heavily for the fifth starting position and while all still had a huge way to go to even reach their soph seasons, they all contributed significantly more than MW. Yes I surely am a cheerleader for KLS but she went from her struggling freshman season to AA's as soph and probably the best player in the country as a Junior. And she still has a year and hopefully six games to go.
Also it's seeing KLS after her injury in the natl semi-finals cheerleading for her team when she had to be heart broken she couldn't play. Earlier this year after all the work she did over the summer and then she's out for a few games with another injury. What does she do? She excitedly cheers for her team - no sulking or feeling bad for herself.
MW and the other freshmen have incredible role models and coaches who truly demands and then follows through with each of them meeting their expectations and goals and beyond. They spend a huge amount of time, discussion and effort to ascertain which recruits can and will very likely fit in with their system, culture and expectations.
Now the younger players have to buy in fully and push themselves harder than they ever imagined possible.
Also I look at players like Kyla & Molly who get very little chance to play meaningful minutes but are seemingly thrilled to be a part of this team both while they are playing and while they are watching. They surely could play more meaningful minutes and even be significant parts of most other teams. Natalie Butler is another great example as she shines now in her new environment.
I truly hope especially MW begins to be ready and able to follow in the footsteps of all of those mentioned above, but also blazing her own path. If she does she likely will become a very strong, significant U Conn player. And if it falls a bit less than that she can look in her mirror and be proud she gave it her very best.
Bronx23

 

[Bronx23]

Yeah, some of these posters are making this whole Walker thing way more cryptic and complicated than I believe it is. If any kid has the high level talent, if they just do the little things consistently, they'll play. Simple as that.

It's way more complicated than you seem to believe. Wishing or wanting to do those things and play more and doing them consistently is actually quite difficult. It takes a huge amount of time, energy, focus, concentration and understanding to do that. Especially when you were always a star prior. And probably never had anyone or certainly too many people telling you it's not good enough. How one reacts to that in and of itself, will tell volumes about the outcomes.
If this was as easy as you imply, why would anyone including Gabby, KLS or Pheesa as only three examples struggle with the process.
Bronx23