Mikayla Blakes is USBWA Freshman of the Year

[HuskyNan]

 

[Vowelguy]

Not my pick but 2 50-point games is hard to argue against. Congrats to her.
Im sure Sarah will be happier if she can collect different hardware in April.

 

[BRS24]

Nope. Sorry.

 

[Bone Dog]

I'm glad for her. She's a reasonable candidate, even if the most important stats don't really support it.

 

[ktuck911]

That brand (SEC) got this vote to go in that direction...my opinion.

 

[Henry]

Sarah was robbed. She didn't need to put up big scoring numbers for us like Blakes did.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Put it up in the locker room...

 

[Basingstoke]

She's great, but really. No...!

 

[Charliebball]

Something tells me Sarah really could care less.......

 

[HuskyNan]

Not my pick but 2 50-point games is hard to argue against. Congrats to her.
Im sure Sarah will be happier if she can collect different hardware in April.

What good are gaudy numbers when they don’t translate to wins? Not arguing with you, vg, just pointing out a dumb obsession with equating “lots of points” with “great basketball “

 

[ec33]

That brand (SEC) got this vote to go in that direction...my opinion.

I would think "not UConn again" was a bigger factor.

 

[Zonepress]

Has seen her play and is a good solid player
Don’t think she’s in the same ZIP Code at service strong

 

[DefenseBB]

 

[AnonChoice]

Sarah was robbed. She didn't need to put up big scoring numbers for us like Blakes did.

That's just horrid. What a joke.

 

[maple]

Blakes did an outstanding job but IMHO it just isn’t on par with what Sarah did. I think it’s much more difficult to come in as a freshman to a team with an enormous legacy and be pretty consistently excellent night in and night out. For her to be a standout on a team that ALSO stars Paige and Azzi is also quite an accomplishment.

 

[GoingPostal]

If the Huskies win the national championship Sarah not winning the freshman of the year award will just be an afterthought.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

The same group of writers put Strong on the 3rd AA team, so take their vote with as much seriousness as it deserves.

 

[huskeynut]

Congrats to Blakes. But two 50 point games should not be the decision maker.

Sarah got robbed but not surprised. Their is still a bias against UConn out there.

 

[donalddoowop]

Well, one thing, they were in the same situation at the end of a game and Blakes succeeded where Sarah failed. Both were fouled shooting a three-point shot at the end of a game. Blakes hit all three of her shots, Sarah did not. That is what made the difference.

 

[choochoo]

I call BS. look at the overall numbers and who is still producing . What a sham. the voters should be ashamed of them selfs. Sarah never needed to score 50, who thinks she could not if needed too ? Please!

 

[fomalhaut]

Are there still basketball writers who think that only scoring is important?

 

[Centerstream]

Just another example of writers voting based on headlines (from a certain network???) and not based upon season long "playing" and game stats.
Maybe they should look at the player's season complete box score and not just one column. ufb.

 

[Bigboote]

Meh — they kept it in the UConn (extended) family.

 

[LwrcasefaN]

IMO, carrying a team versus performing on a seasoned top ranked team must and should carry some considerable weight. Blake was the focus of many defenses in the SEC. As a freshman she shouldered the weight of that Vanderbilt team. Two things can be possible at the same time. Blake is deserving of this recognition and Sarah is exactly what UCONN needed…and got. Congratulations young lady.

 

[HopJim]

Per my recent post about Paige, if UConn starters played the same number of minutes as the stars on other teams, the stats would be much different. Many writers are also a bit lazy and don't take the time to consider non-scoring stats such as blocks, rebounds, assists, etc. Shooting three pointers is often sexy to look at but the dirty work that Sarah puts in, combined with her scoring at key times, wins games. Sarah already has two awards most high school players strive for - Geno's acknowledgement as one of the best of the best as well as a chance to win the NCAA's.

 

[browns]

Sara won it with the AP along with Espn too..Kudos to Blakes though and her 2 50 point games

 

[JSB60]

If they’re going to overlook Sarah, at least it’s in the family.

 

[Ozimoto]

Sarah is the better player overall. She just isn't flashy so doesn't get the buzz of someone like Blakes (who is obviously a good player). We are a short attention span society. Drawn to the "flash" like moths. The values a lot of us grew up with don't resonate the same way nowadays.

 

[GoUconn7961]

 

[Rowdy831]

Playing for UConn can hurt you on the individual awards. Sarah didn't play complete games pretty much every night, at least in her minutes played. She didn't shoot 15-18 times a game and she plays with the most talented roster in the country. The winner played on a mediocre team that allowed her to shoot as much as needed and like many said really didn't result in big wins.

For those that don't think Sarah cares I would strongly disagree. I think you will see in her play on Monday that she has a statement to make and I for one am looking forward to it.