Mt. Rushmore and Beyond

[BfromCT]

Those of us who have been following the Huskies for a long time (I started in 1994) have been blessed with seeing a number of exceptional players. The general consensus is that UConn’s Mt. Rushmore consists of four players - Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers. To my view, Taurasi was the best leader, Moore the best all around player, Stewart the most unguardable, and Bueckers the best shooter.

We sometimes overlook, however, some of the other great players that the Huskies have been blessed with for the past thirty years. I think of six in particular - Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Svetlana Abrosimova, Sue Bird, Tina Charles, and Napheesa Collier. Others will have different choices for their next top five or six.

Lest we forget, Rebecca Lobo was national player of the year, Nykesha Sales was an outstanding offensive and defensive player, no one who has ever seen Abrosimova play doubts her talent, Sue Bird was the best point guard in UConn history, Charles was arguably the best pure center, and the undersized Napheesa Collier was outstanding at both ends of the court. Go, for example, to replays from the 1997-98 season to see Sales and Abrosimova who was then just 17 in action. All six were all All-Americans and all, I think, selected for multiple years.

No other college team, not Tennessee, not Notre Dame, not Stanford, and not South Carolina has, thanks to superb scouting, excellent coaching, and player work ethic, produced such a roster of super stars and the above lists only scratches the surface of the outstanding athletes who have played at Storrs under Geno’s tenure. What a wonderful ride we have all had and we expect it to continue for as long as Geno and Chris Dailey coach the team.

 

[ctfjr]

Who is overlooking those players (and more)?

 

[Skeets]

Rather than Mt Rushmore I would suggest packing a supreme court, but you already have 1 too many so the problems start anew.

 

[oldude]

OK, I’ll jump in. It’s hard to make the case that DT was a better leader than Paige or Maya, or that Maya was a better player than Paige, DT or Stewie. They were all great. Trying to choose among them is like picking which of your children you love the most.

While you’re at it, you better plan on adding one more name to your Mt Rushmore discussion. Sarah just had one of the greatest seasons ever by a freshman WBB player. When she graduates she will go down as one of UConn’s all time greats.

 

[huskeynut]

UConn's Mt. Rushmore is on the wall of Gampel Pavilion. All those great players are there.

 

[Skeets]

OK, I’ll jump in. It’s hard to make the case that DT was a better leader than Paige or Maya, or that Maya was a better player than Paige, DT or Stewie. They were all great. Trying to choose among them is like picking which of your children you love the most.

While you’re at it, you better plan on adding one more name to your Mt Rushmore discussion. Sarah just had one of the greatest seasons ever by a freshman WBB player. When she graduates she will go down as one of UConn’s all time greats.

OD, You make a good case that it's really hard, maybe impossible, to say who was the better leader, better player, or better whatever. I will say that DT had (still has) an edge to her that none of the others had. I guess that's another way of saying the other 3 were too nice.

 

[Lurker]

UConn's Mt. Rushmore is on the wall of Gampel Pavilion. All those great players are there.

Yes, I believe this is the best and the only way to think about who is great among former UConn players rather than the more restrictive, controversial, and ultimately inadequate Mt. Rushmore analogy - which inevitably leaves a great player somehow diminished in the unfair confines of the recognition system and the eyes of the fans. Suggest we drop trying to pick and choose...

 

[oldude]

OD, You make a good case that it's really hard, maybe impossible, to say who was the better leader, better player, or better whatever. I will say that DT had (still has) an edge to her that none of the others had. I guess that's another way of saying the other 3 were too nice.

OK, and I’ll only chime in that Maya was one of the toughest players I have ever seen, not only to opponents, but also to her own teammates if she didn’t see them giving 100%.

 

[meyers7]

Those of us who have been following the Huskies for a long time (I started in 1994) have been blessed with seeing a number of exceptional players. The general consensus is that UConn’s Mt. Rushmore consists of four players - Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers. To my view, Taurasi was the best leader, Moore the best all around player, Stewart the most unguardable, and Bueckers the best shooter.

We sometimes overlook, however, some of the other great players that the Huskies have been blessed with for the past thirty years. I think of six in particular - Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales, Svetlana Abrosimova, Sue Bird, Tina Charles, and Napheesa Collier. Others will have different choices for their next top five or six.

Lest we forget, Rebecca Lobo was national player of the year, Nykesha Sales was an outstanding offensive and defensive player, no one who has ever seen Abrosimova play doubts her talent, Sue Bird was the best point guard in UConn history, Charles was arguably the best pure center, and the undersized Napheesa Collier was outstanding at both ends of the court. Go, for example, to replays from the 1997-98 season to see Sales and Abrosimova who was then just 17 in action. All six were all All-Americans and all, I think, selected for multiple years.

No other college team, not Tennessee, not Notre Dame, not Stanford, and not South Carolina has, thanks to superb scouting, excellent coaching, and player work ethic, produced such a roster of super stars and the above lists only scratches the surface of the outstanding athletes who have played at Storrs under Geno’s tenure. What a wonderful ride we have all had and we expect it to continue for as long as Geno and Chris Dailey coach the team.

That's actually up for debate. (UCONN career only). We did a poll a few years ago and Bird and Jefferson ended up tied for PG. Kind of like the GOAT, either one you pick your justified.

Here is the comparison, for those who haven't looked. Individual numbers/awards.

Bird - 1378 pts / 207 3pt / .481 FG% / .459 FG% / 585 assists / 277 TO / 2.11 a/to / 243 steals / 330 rbs / 1 NPOY / 3 NLC / 1 AA

Jefferson - 1532 pts / 159 3pt / .550 FG% / .420 3FG% / 659 assists / 249 TO / 2.65 a/to / 353 steals / 406 rbs / 0 NPOY / 2 NLC / 2 AA

And Bird 2 NC's, Jefferson 4 NC's. And both had plenty of great players to play with. Bird (Ralph, Svetlana, Cash, Jones, Williams, DT). Jefferson (Stewart, Tuck, Hartley, Dolson, KML, Nurse).

For me Jefferson is the PG, because she's better defensively. But, I can understand those who pick Bird.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

OK, I’ll jump in. It’s hard to make the case that DT was a better leader than Paige or Maya, or that Maya was a better player than Paige, DT or Stewie. They were all great. Trying to choose among them is like picking which of your children you love the most.

From a non-UConn perspective ...

What Diana Taurasi did in 2002-2003 might be the single greatest season accomplishment.

UConn lost Bird, Cash, Jones, and Williams to graduation. UConn was incredibly reliant on talented but unproven freshman (Strother, Turner, Crockett, and Wolff) and solid role players but not elite in terms of overall individual talent, recruiting rankings, and high school accolades (Battle, Moore, Valleys, Conlon). Duke was rising, Tennessee was a power, and teams and the media thought UConn would have a down season.

Taurasi averaged 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists during the 2002-2003 season -- and UConn only lost one game en route to the national championship

Her stellar performance in the national championship game against Tennessee included 28 points on 8 of 15 shooting, sinking four 3-pointers. Her 28 points were the second-most ever scored in a national championship game at that time.

Maya Moore might be the best all-around player (offense and defense) in UConn history. But she also played with Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery for two seasons and Charles for a third.

Could Moore's 2010-2011 be used as a comparator? Possibly, but she still had Hayes, Hartley, and Dolson -- all three of whom are still WNBA starters 14 years after they played together at UConn.

Most telling ... no player struck fear into opposing coaches' hearts more than Taurasi did during that 2002-2003 season. It did not matter if other teams were more talented or deeper on paper; opposing coaches feared Diana because of what she could do and what she could get her teammates to do.

Remember ... “We have Diana Taurasi and you don't”

Again, just some thoughts from a longtime poster ...

 

[oldude]

From a non-UConn perspective ...

What Diana Taurasi did in 2002-2003 might be the single greatest season accomplishment.

UConn lost Bird, Cash, Jones, and Williams to graduation. UConn was incredibly reliant on talented but unproven freshman (Strother, Turner, Crockett, and Wolff) and solid role players but not elite in terms of overall individual talent, recruiting rankings, and high school accolades (Battle, Moore, Valleys, Conlon). Duke was rising, Tennessee was a power, and teams and the media thought UConn would have a down season.

Taurasi averaged 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists during the 2002-2003 season -- and UConn only lost one game en route to the national championship

Her stellar performance in the national championship game against Tennessee included 28 points on 8 of 15 shooting, sinking four 3-pointers. Her 28 points were the second-most ever scored in a national championship game at that time.

Maya Moore might be the best all-around player (offense and defense) in UConn history. But she also played with Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery for two seasons and Charles for a third.

Could Moore's 2010-2011 be used as a comparator? Possibly, but she still had Hayes, Hartley, and Dolson -- all three of whom are still WNBA starters 14 years after they played together at UConn.

Most telling ... no player struck fear into opposing coaches' hearts more than Taurasi did during that 2002-2003 season. It did not matter if other teams were more talented or deeper on paper; opposing coaches feared Diana because of what she could do and what she could get her teammates to do.

Remember ... “We have Diana Taurasi and you don't”

Again, just some thoughts from a longtime poster ...

I would add that UConn was practically unbeatable during Stewie's 4 years, and absolutely unbeatable in March when it counted the most. Paige is the only player in history to be named NPOY as a freshman and her performance in leading the Huskies to a championship this past year through one of the most difficult brackets in history stands out as one of the greatest championship runs ever.

So yes, we can all focus on one or more accomplishments of these remarkable players. But in the end, I can not tell you who was better. As a diehard UConn fan I am just happy that the Huskies have been unusually blessed by the Basketball Gods when it comes to generational talents.

 

[EricLA]

This debate just goes to show how blessed we are as UConn fans. I'd be curious to see the Mt Rushmore from some of the other teams mentioned (SC, Stanford, Tennessee, ND)... While all of them have some greats, and certainly NPOY's, as well as MVP's in the WNBA, in a 4x4, I'd stack up our Mt. Rushmore against anyone else's every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I think who the UConn all time great is could be as much personal preference as anything. I tend to give the nod to Dee for accomplishing what @CamrnCrz1974 noted above, but you could make an argument for any of them. If Paige had 4 healthy years...

Add to that the "2nd tier" players who didn't quite have the individual or team accomplishments as the "big 4"... I think @BfromCT nailed it with Lobo, Sales, Abrosimova, Bird (imagine her with 4 healthy college seasons), Charles, and Collier. I'm tempted to add Mosqueda-Lewis to that list as well (sub par pro career, but stellar college career), as well as Jefferson, and possibly Bascom and KLS (Phee is a much better pro, but again, KLS was stellar in college).

What a plethora of talent over the years. Just one of the many reasons Geno and CD are GOATS as well...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I have to put in a vote for Paige as the slipperiest, smoothest now you see her now you don't front court wizard. I realize the plaque maker will be challenged.

 

[1974yankees]

That's actually up for debate. (UCONN career only). We did a poll a few years ago and Bird and Jefferson ended up tied for PG. Kind of like the GOAT, either one you pick your justified.

Here is the comparison, for those who haven't looked. Individual numbers/awards.

Bird - 1378 pts / 207 3pt / .481 FG% / .459 FG% / 585 assists / 277 TO / 2.11 a/to / 243 steals / 330 rbs / 1 NPOY / 3 NLC / 1 AA

Jefferson - 1532 pts / 159 3pt / .550 FG% / .420 3FG% / 659 assists / 249 TO / 2.65 a/to / 353 steals / 406 rbs / 0 NPOY / 2 NLC / 2 AA

And Bird 2 NC's, Jefferson 4 NC's. And both had plenty of great players to play with. Bird (Ralph, Svetlana, Cash, Jones, Williams, DT). Jefferson (Stewart, Tuck, Hartley, Dolson, KML, Nurse).

For me Jefferson is the PG, because she's better defensively. But, I can understand those who pick Bird.

I agree with Jefferson. In fact she was way better than Bird in my opinion...

I would only put two names on that "MT. Rushmore"

Stewart and Maya. Maybe Taursi but definitely not Paige.

I just don't think Paige belongs with those 2-3.

It's because she was injured and her best year was her freshman year before the injuries. We really didn't get to see the real paige after her injuries. She just wasn't the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever.

 

[meyers7]

I agree with Jefferson. In fact she was way better than Bird in my opinion...

I would only put two names on that "MT. Rushmore"

Stewart and Maya. Maybe Taursi but definitely not Paige.

I just don't think Paige belongs with those 2-3.

It's because she was injured and her best year was her freshman year before the injuries. We really didn't get to see the real paige after her injuries. She just wasn't the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever.

IDK, seems pretty close to me.

Sr Year - .543% FG / .419% 3FG / 4.4 rbs / 176 assists / 3.52 a/to / 29 blks / 91 steals / 756 pts / 19.9 ppg

Fr Year - .524% FG / .464% 3FG / 4.9 rbs / 168 assists / 2.3 a/to / 11 blks / 66 steals / 581 pts / 20.0 ppg

 

[oldude]

I agree with Jefferson. In fact she was way better than Bird in my opinion...

I would only put two names on that "MT. Rushmore"

Stewart and Maya. Maybe Taursi but definitely not Paige.

I just don't think Paige belongs with those 2-3.

It's because she was injured and her best year was her freshman year before the injuries. We really didn't get to see the real paige after her injuries. She just wasn't the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever.

“ She just wasn’t the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever?????” What in the hell version of Paige were you watching? After several devastating injuries that would have permanently disabled many other players, Paige just had one of the greatest seasons ever by a UConn player. She came within a couple made FT’s of achieving the 50/40/90 holy grail of shooting. She lead the nation in A/TO ratio at 3.24.

In addition she earned her 3rd 1st team AA honor while also being named both the WBCA and Honda NPOY, while leading her team to a national championship. I don’t know how else to say this, but your assessment of Paige is just plain wrong!

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Stewart and Maya. Maybe Taursi but definitely not Paige.

As an outsider, I do not see how UConn's Mt. Rushmore does not include Taurasi ...

 

[browns]

“ She just wasn’t the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever?????” What in the hell version of Paige were you watching? After several devastating injuries that would have permanently disabled many other players, Paige just had one of the greatest seasons ever by a UConn player. She came within a couple made FT’s of achieving the 50/40/90 holy grail of shooting. She lead the nation in A/TO ratio at 3.24.

In addition she earned her 3rd 1st team AA honor while also being named both the AP and Honda NPOY, while leading her team to a national championship. I don’t know how else to say this, but your assessment of Paige is just plain wrong!

Or you could look at it in the 2 final four games she was the 3rd best player on the team for those 2 games..She only won 1 championshp and I thnk its safe to say Uconn would have won both games even if Paige didn't play
And JuJu was the NPOY in the AP along with the Wooden ,USBA and the Naismith trophys..clearly the best player in the nation

 

[browns]

As an outsider, I do not see how UConn's Mt. Rushmore does not include Taurasi ...

Your right without DT there is no Mt. Rushmore

 

[FairView]

Maybe we need to change the analogy from heads on Mt. Rushmore to Moai on Easter Island.

 

[oldude]

Maybe we need to change the analogy from heads on Mt. Rushmore to Moai on Easter Island.

There are 887 Moai on Easter Island….

 

[BobbyJ]

I agree with Jefferson. In fact she was way better than Bird in my opinion...

I would only put two names on that "MT. Rushmore"

Stewart and Maya. Maybe Taursi but definitely not Paige.

I just don't think Paige belongs with those 2-3.

It's because she was injured and her best year was her freshman year before the injuries. We really didn't get to see the real paige after her injuries. She just wasn't the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever.

Are you sure you were watching Bueckers this year? She was a much stronger, smarter, and all around better player this year than that freshman year.

 

[1974yankees]

“ She just wasn’t the same. A lot of her game was probably lost forever?????” What in the hell version of Paige were you watching? After several devastating injuries that would have permanently disabled many other players, Paige just had one of the greatest seasons ever by a UConn player. She came within a couple made FT’s of achieving the 50/40/90 holy grail of shooting. She lead the nation in A/TO ratio at 3.24.

In addition she earned her 3rd 1st team AA honor while also being named both the AP and Honda NPOY, while leading her team to a national championship. I don’t know how else to say this, but your assessment of Paige is just plain wrong!

Lol.

As a 5th year senior she did NOT win POTY. But she did as a freshman. She also was NOT named tournament MVP. Azzi won that... And Sarah was a close second....

All I am saying is two things.

1. She is not (in my opinion) in the same class as Stewart, Maya or Taursi. She might have been but she was injured for over 2 years during a 5 year career...On the other hand, nobody that has ever played the game EVER is in the same class as Stewart, Maya and Taursi... So this statement is not me putting down Paige...

2. Again her ranking as the hypothetical "MT Rushmore" of Uconn players was lowered because of her injuries. No player could ever possibly be the same after having the injuries she did. Yes she was a great player but she will never be the same again because there will always be this hesitation and fear of getting injured and not being able to walk again. It's human nature.

But I take my hat off to Paige because she was way better than I expected after those injuries...

For the record I might even put Collier on the same level as Taursi and ahead of Paige....

But for me, It's Stewart and Maya. Nobody could do what they did on a basketball court.

Just like nobody could do what Michael Jordan did. Not LeBron, not Bird, Magic or Kobe. There was only one Michael Jordan...

I always thought of Maya as the female version of Michael Jordan... Her atheletism was off the charts....Her class was second to none... I never once ever saw Maya using vulgar language (mostly because of her Christian upbringing) I take this into account when ranking people. But that's just me.

My two daughters (8, and 11) love Paige but they would have loved Maya too.



But I will make a prediction right now.. Sarah is going to be that 3rd player on "MT Rushmore"

 

[FairView]

There are 887 Moai on Easter Island….

I understand it's not a permanent solution, but it can get us through a few more seasons.

 

[oldude]

Lol.

As a 5th year senior she did NOT win POTY. But she did as a freshman. She also was NOT named tournament MVP. Azzi won that... And Sarah was a close second....

All I am saying is two things.

1. She is not (in my opinion) in the same class as Stewart, Maya or Taursi. She might have been but she was injured for over 2 years during a 5 year career...On the other hand, nobody that has ever played the game EVER is in the same class as Stewart, Maya and Taursi... So this statement is not me putting down Paige...

2. Again her ranking as the hypothetical "MT Rushmore" of Uconn players was lowered because of her injuries. No player could ever possibly be the same after having the injuries she did. Yes she was a great player but she will never be the same again because there will always be this hesitation and fear of getting injured and not being able to walk again. It's human nature.

But I take my hat off to Paige because she was way better than I expected after those injuries...

For the record I might even put Collier on the same level as Taursi and ahead of Paige....

But for me, It's Stewart and Maya. Nobody could do what they did on a basketball court.

Just like nobody could do what Michael Jordan did. Not LeBron, not Bird, Magic or Kobe. There was only one Michael Jordan...

I always thought of Maya as the female version of Michael Jordan... Her atheletism was off the charts....Her class was second to none... I never once ever saw Maya using vulgar language (mostly because of her Christian upbringing) I take this into account when ranking people. But that's just me.

My two daughters (8, and 11) love Paige but they would have loved Maya too.



But I will make a prediction right now.. Sarah is going to be that 3rd player on "MT Rushmore"

Again, you are wrong. Paige won 2 NPOY awards as a 5th year player this past season: the WBCA & Honda awards. Paige put up 3 straight 30+ games to get the Huskies to the FF. You are basically making the argument that Paige is not one of UConn's all-time greats because she was injured? That's a pretty tough assessment for a player who had one of the greatest seasons ever as a Husky.

Your comment, "She just wasn't the same. A lot of her game is lost forever.' is demonstrably absurd. Do yourself a favor. Trust your daughters' judgement. I have watched every Husky player since 1995. Paige is one of the best to every play in Storrs.

I do agree with you on Sarah, although as others have pointed out, Mt Rushmore, which has 4 spots, doesn't have enough places for all the greatest UConn players.