Morgan Tuck - All-American

[hoophuskee]

IMO Morgan is an absolute terrific player and deserved to be on that Wooden List over at least one of the players. I still am expecting she gets all-American honors this year. It seems her game vs Notre Dame has been totally forgotten though.

The thing is - next year I don't see how she gets 1st team a/a next year if a player or two doesn't leave like Jewel or the kid from Minny.

Just off the top - we've got Stewie, MoJeff, Jewel, Mitchell, the kid from Minny, Diamond D, Nina Davis, Kelsey Plum and you know that USC and ND are going to win a lot of games thus be right there for adding a 2nd - i.e. Turner and Wilson.

That's 10 right there- and Tuck against the top 3 teams we played this year has averaged 18.3 ppg with 7.3 rebounds and is shooting 59.5% from the floor.

I want to see her "on the wall."

 

[Wbbfan1]

Don't see Morgan making an All American team this year as she didn't have any preseason publicity. She'll also be held back as there's a good chance that Stewart, Moriah and Kaleena will make an All American team. Voters won't award four UConn players All American Status. Morgan I would think has a good chance next year to make All American.

It will be interesting to see if Kiah gets any love for Defensive Player of the Year. She should over Eliz Williams.

 

[Vowelguy]

It's a numbers game. The 4th UConn player is very unlikely to get recognition, particularly as a soph. Perhaps a small shot at honorable mention.

But you don't come to UConn for individual accolades.

 

[CocoHusky]

Hoop,
Java started a similar thread a few weeks back which evolved into a discussion of Morgan's chance of making All American.
http://the-boneyard.com/threads/after-last-nights-game-its-going-to-be-difficult-to-determine.72372/
The most important thing I got out of it from Myers is there are two flavors AP & WBCA of all-America. WBCA is what determines being on UCONN Wall of honor. Morgan has a shot at making WBCA All America this year. I don't think anyone has forgotten about her performance against ND 1) becaused she backed it up with an equally impressive game against SC 2) She gave UCONN a fighting chance in the OT at Stanford before fouling out. The performances are there the only thing that may keep her off WBCA is UCONN fatigue-too many good players which would be a darn shame!

 

[EricSD]

The thing is that Morgan has not been consistent enough lately and her numbers have dropped. Having said that at 13.6 PPG she's just a tad behind KML at 13.9 PPG. I think it's unlikely Morgan is on any AA teams this year. Next year I would say she has a much larger chance.

 

[Bayareahusky]

Morgan rocks..... key player in our rotation..... leadership role..... she is the glue!!! Hope she is recognized as such....

 

[HGN]

I think if Morgan plays well during the NCAA's , and garners the publicity the NCAA's will allow , she just may get on a AA list.....Publicity is what she lacks , not skill. Sure she didn't get the Pre-season nominations like the others , and the other nominees have played well for the most part. But many of those nominee's will not make the Elite-8 or FF. And if UConn makes it , it will allow Morgan to showcase her worthiness and abundant skills to the AA voters. And winning a NC on top of showcasing her skills will help in getting votes.

As the song lyrics states; " It Ain't Over".

 

[Vowelguy]

I think if Morgan plays well during the NCAA's , and garners the publicity the NCAA's will allow , she just may get on a AA list.....Publicity is what she lacks , not skill. Sure she didn't get the Pre-season nominations like the others , and the other nominees have played well for the most part. But many of those nominee's will not make the Elite-8 or FF. And if UConn makes it , it will allow Morgan to showcase her worthiness and abundant skills to the AA voters. And winning a NC on top of showcasing her skills will help in getting votes.

AA votes are done before the Final 4. In fact I think before the NCAA tourney.

 

[Zorro]

I agree with all he above, BUT what worries me is that any support that Morgan gets seems likely to detract from the support for MoJet. It would be a crime if MuJet graduated without have achieved first team WCBA honors.

 

[hoophuskee]

Thanks java I didn't see that before or if I did - it didn't sink in at the time.

IMO we're way too dominant to not have a 4th player with at least as a 3rd team a/a. We've blown out two of the top 4 teams in America and Tuck was spectacular in one and terrific in another.

And eric- I don't necessarily agree that she hasn't been consistent. In a way I do. But - sure she isn't consistently shooting near 60% from the floor-- she is shooting 56.7% from the floor in her last 10/11. She is 4 to in assists vs 1 turnovers uring that time. So she is shooting the ball extremely well, passing the ball extremely well, ispart of a juggernaut defense and her scoring is limited by the minutes she plays.

If nobody is close to us- then why can't there be 4? The 2001-202 team got 4. This team "shares the ball." That's why for example Tuck in her last 10 has a 4-1 a/to ratio Right now it is nearly 2-1 a/to ratio for a pf/c that is number one in the country with her terrific shooting - imo a travesty of she doesn't get 3rd team. She's too damn good.

 

[CocoHusky]

The 2001-202 team got 4.

2002 team had 3 UCONN players as did 2009 & 2014.
2002 WBCA
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt
Alana Beard, Duke
Sue Bird, Connecticut
Swin Cash, Connecticut
Stacey Dales, Oklahoma
Sheila Lambert, Baylor
Kelly Mazzante, Penn State
Nicole Powell, Stanford
Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State

 

[meyers7]

The most important thing I got out of it from Myers is there are two flavors AP & WBCA of all-America. WBCA is what determines being on UCONN Wall of honor.

Umm not quite. There is actually the

AP (which does 1st, 2nd, 3rd teams, 5 each - only 1st team would make WoH)
WBCA (which does 10 members) (formally Kodak or State Farm AAs)

Either of them would get you on the wall. Of course if you are 1st team AP (top 5), pretty likely you'd make WBCA top 10.

There is also
USBWA (which does a 10 member)
ESPNW (which does I think 1st and 2nd team - 5 each)

Don't know if they would count or not. Usually if you are on one of these, you are on the other 2.

For NPOY there is:

Naismith (Atlanta Tip Off Club)
Wade (WBCA)
Wooden (LA Athletic Club)
AP (writers)

Any of them and you're NPOY.

 

[Vowelguy]

The 2001-2002 team got 4.

01-02 was
- likely the greatest WCBB team ever
- undefeated
- had 4 seniors (SRs always get preference on AA teams) and a super soph

This year's team aint 01-02. That's no insult.

Also few showcase games. SC was home, ND was w/o Turner, Duke was Duke, Stan was a L.

 

[HGN]

AA votes are done before the Final 4. In fact I think before the NCAA tourney.

Vowel, ok.....But if the voting was later ... You get my point.

 

[DishNSwish]

Don't see it; honorable mention, third team maybe....

 

[hoophuskee]

2002 team had 3 UCONN players as did 2009 & 2014.
2002 WBCA
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt
Alana Beard, Duke
Sue Bird, Connecticut
Swin Cash, Connecticut
Stacey Dales, Oklahoma
Sheila Lambert, Baylor
Kelly Mazzante, Penn State
Nicole Powell, Stanford
Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State

For the AP in 2001-2002 Bird got 1stteam. DT and Cash got 2nd team. And Jones got 3rd team. Here is a link to show Jones as 3rd team. Look at the bottom for awards. We had 4 all-americans in 01-02.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asjha_Jones

 

[Iluvacc]

2002 team had 3 UCONN players as did 2009 & 2014.
2002 WBCA
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt
Alana Beard, Duke
Sue Bird, Connecticut
Swin Cash, Connecticut
Stacey Dales, Oklahoma
Sheila Lambert, Baylor
Kelly Mazzante, Penn State
Nicole Powell, Stanford
Diana Taurasi, Connecticut
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State

An absolute tragedy that Swin Cash wasn't a first team AP All-American. Leading scorer and rebounder on the greatest college team ever. She was the best forward in the country that year.

 

[Iluvacc]

I agree with all he above, BUT what worries me is that any support that Morgan gets seems likely to detract from the support for MoJet. It would be a crime if MuJet graduated without have achieved first team WCBA honors.

I don't think they will deny MoJett this year. Not after she completely outplayed the reigning SEC POY on both ends of the court. She and Loyd are the two best guards in WCBB and it's not even close.

 

[Zorro]

Fact is, UConn has four of the best ten plaqyers in the country. Other fact is, the selectors are not going to put all four of them on the WBCA first team. Sad but true.

 

[j66kicker]

Fact is, UConn has four of the best ten plaqyers in the country. Other fact is, the selectors are not going to put all four of them on the WBCA first team. Sad but true.

Nor are they going to put 3 of them on the first team

 

[MilfordHusky]

Nor are they going to put 3 of them on the first team

I'm not sure if I agree. There are lots of good players out there, so the competition is tough, but Moriah is simply taking games over at this point and Kaleena is possibly the best shooter ever. It's hard to leave either one off the list. And Stewie, of course, is a lock.

 

[j66kicker]

I'm not sure if I agree. There are lots of good players out there, so the competition is tough, but Moriah is simply taking games over at this point and Kaleena is possibly the best shooter ever. It's hard to leave either one off the list. And Stewie, of course, is a lock.

Agree Stewie is a lock. Don't disagree about Kaleena and Moriah deserving first team, but deserving isn't the same as getting. I think the chances of all 3 getting on the first team are very small.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Agree Stewie is a lock. Don't disagree about Kaleena and Moriah deserving first team, but deserving isn't the same as getting. I think the chances of all 3 getting on the first team are very small.

I'm not saying that all 3 will make it, but it is possible and reasonable. Which one would you leave off?

 

[j66kicker]

I'm not saying that all 3 will make it, but it is possible and reasonable. Which one would you leave off?

I probably wouldn't, but I'm not an impartial voter. Suspect Stewart and KML will be first team, especially if KML starts getting noticed for being on pace to break the 3 point record. Moriah 2nd team. Don't think Morgan has the stats or getting enough national buzz to be voted for any honors this year.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I probably wouldn't, but I'm not an impartial voter. Suspect Stewart and KML will be first team, especially if KML starts getting noticed for being on pace to break the 3 point record. Moriah 2nd team. Don't think Morgan has the stats or getting enough national buzz to be voted for any honors this year.

I agree that publicity matters. If KML stays ahead of Morgan Eye and on pace to surpass 392, along with being a senior, I think she gets the nod. Unless Moriah absolutely terrorizes other teams with steals, darts to the basket, and the long ball.

I can see Morgan making Honorable Mention. Next year, she'll move up.

I think the award voting takes place after the conference tourneys but before the NCAA tourney. Can someone verify that?

 

[Zorro]

I think 3 first team should, could and probably will happen, but four, never. I think Stewie and SuperK are locks and MoJet is probable.

 

[Zorro]

I just did some very quick checking (here is the site if anyone wants to see if I did it right;
http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_caat_d1_past

Only twice have three members of the same team made the 10-player wbca first team (or its predecessors); on both occasions it was UConn players. Sue, SWin and DT in 02, and Steph, KML and Bria last year. Three times two UConn players have been selected; 00. 09 and 13. UT, Baylor, ND and Stanford have had 2 players selected 1, 2 and 3 times respectively. So there is a precedent for three to be selected, but it is a slim precedent. And the fact that we had 3 selected last season might mitigate against us this season; hare to say. I guess all we can do is hope that justice will prevail. NEVER have four been selected from the same team.

 

[hoophuskee]

01-02 was
- likely the greatest WCBB team ever
- undefeated
- had 4 seniors (SRs always get preference on AA teams) and a super soph

This year's team aint 01-02. That's no insult.

Also few showcase games. SC was home, ND was w/o Turner, Duke was Duke, Stan was a L.

I don't agree with where you are coming from other than one point you made regarding seniors. Still - Tuck is better and deserves it.

Just because 01-02 was Greatest and undefeated it's not very relevant imo. UCONN 14-15 isn't playing UCONN 01-02 but they are just as dominant this year vs. the 14-15 competition as 01-02 was. That one loss - I don't think ha any bearing on the voters mind whether Morgan Tuck will be an a/a or not.

And regarding you're point of SC. I don't agree with your donplay. UCONN won over 20 it was a blowout vs the number 2 team. There is no justifiable reason to get blown out hwne you're number 1 at the time and you don't have injuries. How many number 1 teams blow out number 2 teams and vice-versa? In order to do that - you ave to show A LOT regardless fi home or away.

As far as Turner not being at ND - completely totally, unequivocally, irrelevant imo. You play againt the competition. Notre is is MORE than just 1 player especially if they have their supreme player and so is UCONN. Tuck outplayed THREE ALL-Amercians that day - Stewie, KML and MoJeff. Playing ND without Turner - ND is still a very very tough team AT HOME. And all-american candidates like Tuck should be able to wipe out less talented players such as the ND bench. And hwo many times do we see palyers rise to the occasion when a top player is out? Well that sure as hell didn't happen with Tuck because she played like the all-American she is- she made it a complete mismatch. . Tuck is just too damn good once she got her legs after missing a year.

Third yes - Duke was Duke - a good team - and Duke does have a top-tier All-American -- and yet Tuck was the best player on the floor.