my vote for Maya as best player in UConn history (so far) | Page 4 | The Boneyard

my vote for Maya as best player in UConn history (so far)

JonathanXIV said:
Saying that there isn’t “much of an argument” for Maya being UConn’s best player ever is really rather unbelievable. Not saying that one can’t think it’s someone else, but one can make a heckuva argument that Maya was the best.
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You can certainly make an argument for Maya. That argument just isn’t nearly as strong as the one for Stewart.
 
Skeets said:
Interesting question. If we keep this all-UCONN, it would have to be Sue and then the best big. Who is the best big? Rebecca? Kara? Tina? Picking the best big is as tough as picking between DT, MM, & Stewie. If this is open to any program then as Bud Abbott might say: "third base? I don't know".
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We polled this a couple years ago.

1- Bird/Jefferson (tie)
2 - DT
3 - Moore
4 - Stewart
5 - Charles
 
UConn990411 said:
It’s really difficult to argue that someone who led UConn to four national titles with four Final Four most outstanding player awards isn’t the best player in program history. And that’s before we mention the two undefeated seasons and the contributions to UConn’s 111-game winning streak.

There’s an argument to be made for Taurasi (who’s my favorite player ever), especially when you consider the teams she won with her junior and senior seasons. I wouldn’t make that argument, but it’s at least a worthwhile discussion. However, there really isn’t much of an argument to be made for Maya.

That’s not at all a criticism, either. For any other school except for maybe Tennessee, Maya would be the best player in program history by a wide margin (honorable mentions to Griner at Baylor and Miller at USC). But for UConn, she seems to be the clear third best player ever after Stewart and Taurasi.
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She won 4 but with the best supporting cast of the three. Moriah and Morgan, two of the best defenders ever. Plus Morgan was unstoppable on offense. Moriah could penetrate at will.
 
Phillyconn said:
She won 4 but with the best supporting cast of the three. Moriah and Morgan, two of the best defenders ever. Plus Morgan was unstoppable on offense. Moriah could penetrate at will.
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That’s fair. But if we’re going to use this logic, it’s tough to argue Maya over Taurasi, who won two titles with arguably less talented supporting casts than the one Maya had her senior year. It just gets really tough to make a strong case for someone with two national championships when Taurasi and Stewart have three and four, respectively.

I will say that I think the gap between Maya and Stewart/Taurasi is a lot smaller than the one between Maya and whoever is the fourth best player in program history. It’s also incredible we get to have these types of debates.
 
UConn990411 said:
That’s fair. But if we’re going to use this logic, it’s tough to argue Maya over Taurasi, who won two titles with arguably less talented supporting casts than the one Maya had her senior year. It just gets really tough to make a strong case for someone with two national championships when Taurasi and Stewart have three and four, respectively.

I will say that I think the gap between Maya and Stewart/Taurasi is a lot smaller than the one between Maya and whoever is the fourth best player in program history. It’s also incredible we get to have these types of debates.
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Maya was amazing amazing amazing in the title game 09-10. I put her right there with DT and Stewie - though I have her 3rd too but I understand anyone that has her higher.
 
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Phillyconn said:
She won 4 but with the best supporting cast of the three. Moriah and Morgan, two of the best defenders ever. Plus Morgan was unstoppable on offense. Moriah could penetrate at will.
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Yeah, I don't think so. Tuck gets extra credit for playing with Stewie. To be fair, those teams weren't a Big 3. It was a Batman and Robin. Maya played with someone good as her.
 
Waquoit said:
Yeah, I don't think so. Tuck gets extra credit for playing with Stewie. To be fair, those teams weren't a Big 3. It was a Batman and Robin. Maya played with someone good as her.
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I disagree. Moriah, Imho, was the best defensive pg in UConn history. Who would you put in front of her as the best pg in UConn histor? Sue Bird, that’s it.
A healthy Morgan Tuck was a defensive stopper. Imho one of the best post defenders. Low post moves were unstoppabl. Tina Charles was a great one, but Morgan was not far behind. Throw Moriah in with Morgan and Stewie and you have the best all around threesome in UConn history.
 
Phillyconn said:
I disagree. Moriah, Imho, was the best defensive pg in UConn history. Who would you put in front of her as the best pg in UConn histor? Sue Bird, that’s it.
A healthy Morgan Tuck was a defensive stopper. Imho one of the best post defenders. Low post moves were unstoppabl. Tina Charles was a great one, but Morgan was not far behind. Throw Moriah in with Morgan and Stewie and you have the best all around threesome in UConn history.
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No disrespect to Morgan Tuck, who was terrific, but Tina Charles is arguably the best center in UConn history. There’s a pretty big gap between them.

In my opinion, the Maya-Charles-Montgomery trio is the best big three in UConn history. Stewart-Jefferson-Tuck was ridiculous too, as was Bird-Taurasi-(whoever was on that night between Cash/Jones/Williams), but that Maya-Charles-Montgomery trio was a monster.
 
UConn990411 said:
No disrespect to Morgan Tuck, who was terrific, but Tina Charles is arguably the best center in UConn history. There’s a pretty big gap between them.

In my opinion, the Maya-Charles-Montgomery trio is the best big three in UConn history. Stewart-Jefferson-Tuck was ridiculous too, as was Bird-Taurasi-(whoever was on that night between Cash/Jones/Williams), but that Maya-Charles-Montgomery trio was a monster.
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I will give you Maya and Tina over Morgan and Stewie but when you add Moriah and Renee to the equation, the scales tip the other way. Moriah’s defensive skills were second to none. She penetrated defenses at will and she could shoot.
 
hoophuskee said:
Well as the poster jazz and I have mentioned a few times there has to be a consideration takes on quality of opponent along with how teams were built. IMO the teams UCONN went through in 02-03 and 03-04 weren't as good as what Maya and Stewart had to go through between ND and Stanford.

Secondly- ofc Maya and Stewart would struggle winning with DT's teams -- but that's because the DT team wouldn't have another quality offensive starting guard and DT;s team had the combo 3 power forwards/ centers in which you have 2 good players like Turner and Moore. So exhange these 2 along with adding a Crocket type for guards of comparable value - - yes I think they can win too. Turner and Moore went on to play in the WNBA. They weren't bums.

Third- I do have DT slightly ahead of Maya but I can understand the counterpoint to be made for Maya - in that unlike 02-03 and 03-04- Maya's 10-11 team didn't have backup players in the post (S. Walker left during the season). So once Dolson got into foul trouble - only played 24 minutes in game 4 - but in games 2 and 3 she played 34 and 40- UCONN was susceptible to losing because they didn't have a backup. They got wiped out on the glass.

The only reason why UCONN didn't have Dolson play more in game 1 vs ND was due to Walker still being on the team.
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Thank you for making some really great points regarding the distinctions that Maya couldn't overcome ... well said!
 
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After reading through a good number of posts and watching these great players for a number of years, my pick is...

Maya - As a person (on and off the court)
Stewie - As a player (She would be my first pick on the playground when choosing teams)
DT - As a leader (it seems like she we will a team to victory)

You can’t go wrong with any one of them. I’m glad they chose UCONN and shared their talent with us.
 
I'm late to this debate... But I'll add this.
The question was who is the best player, not who won the most titles etc..

I'm going with Maya, Geno has always said there is only one player who came into his program ready from day one and that is a fact! Also, there is a reason why she is the all-time scoring leader in the program and that is called consistency... And she did that on both ends of the floor, never lacking for energy or effort.

Stewie and Diana are tied for 2nd place.....

And though this is about what was done at UCONN, when you look at the impact she also had at the next level it's very difficult not to give her the edge as the all-time great, so far.
If I'm picking a player to be my franchise player I'm Picking Maya first and Stewie second. But that is just me..
 
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