Names On The Wall Who Were Starters as Freshmen

[JoePgh]

One of the articles in Nan's "UConn in the News" today commented on the fact that KML was not starting at UConn despite being High School Player of the Year. One statement in the article caught my attention:

"The two UConn All-Americans (in context, this means players whose names are on the wall at Gampel) that started each game their freshman year were Sue Bird and Jennifer Rizzotti. And Bird’s rookie year lasted only eight games due to a knee injury."

Really? I could have sworn that Tina Charles started every game in her freshman year. And Renee Montgomery started almost every game, but I do recall that Ketia and Ashley Valley started in a few games early in the season, as did Mel Thomas.

But the main point of the article -- that only a small minority of the names on the wall were starters as freshmen -- is still very noteworthy.

I agree with those who say that KML and Bria will eventually be on the wall. And I believe Bria started every game in her freshman year last year.

 

[alexrgct]

Bria may not have started the first game, but if she didn't, she was inserted into the starting lineup very quickly. Obviously Lorin started on Senior Night.

I'm a little suprised Bascom didn't start immediately. Wasn't she far and away the best recruit Geno had at the time? Yes, I realize that going from playing girls in Epping to WCBB is a big jump, but still.

I know that of the high school #1s who became legends at UConn (Kesh, Shea, D, Tina, and Maya), Kesh, Shea, and D were sixth "men" as freshmen. Geno does love him some freshmen off the bench if he can afford that luxury.

One would assume that Breanna, whether she starts or not, is going to play huge minutes next season.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Senior Night may be a reason why some players do not start EVERY game as a frosh.

At UConn, it is rare for any frosh to start. Maya Moore finished second in the AP POY voting as a frosh but didn't start until injury created the need and opportunity. Same for Diana. Both were arguably as good as our starters--or anyone's starters--but Geno started upperclassman. Kaleena plays major minutes. We'll see at the end of the season who our best player is. It could be Tiff, Bria, or Kaleena.

 

[caravaggio]

Has any freshman won the Big East Sixth Woman award?

 

[NCorBust]

Irrespective of the names on the wall. Starting info re: frosh.
.
UCONN Freshmen Starts

…………………………,…GP/GS
2000-2001
….Taurasi, Diana.........,... 33-14
….Conlon, Maria..........,..... 23-0
….Valley, Morgan..........,... 29-0
2001-2002
….No Stats – Bad Link
2002-2003
….Strother, Ann............,.. 38-38
….Turner, Barbara............. 38-7
….Wolff, Nicole................ 10-10
….Crockett, Willnett……,.. 36-0
2003-2004
….No Freshmen
2004-2005
….Houston, Charde……,...33-12
….Thomas, Mel…………,...29-4
….Swanier, Ketia………,….31-5
2005-2006
….Montgomery, Renee…..37-35
….GREENE, Kalana........... 35-3
….WILLIAMS, Tahirah…....21-0
….KERNS, Cassie............... 21-0
2006-2007
….CHARLES, Tina.............36-32
….MCLAREN, Kaili.............35-5
….GARDLER, Meghan........ 29-0
….FERNANDES, Jacquie.... 25-0
2007-2008
….MOORE, Maya..............38-30
….DIXON, Lorin................35-10
2008-2009
….Doty, Caroline................17-17
….Hayes, Tiffany................39-17
2009-2010
….Faris, Kelly................. ....39-0
….Buck, Heather................. 35-0
2010-2011
….Hartley, Bria..............,...38-34
….Dolson, Stefanie........,....38-36
….Walker, Samarie............. 17-1
….Engeln, Lauren............... 30-0
….Johnson, Michala……... .30-0
2011-2012
….MOSQUEDA-LEWIS,.. ..19-0
….Stokes, Kiah................... 17-0
….Banks, Brianna............... 17-0

 

[UcMiami]

Interesting re Ann Strother - I had forgotten that, and this list also reminded me how excited we all were with Nicole Wolff at the start of that year. What a tough road Nicole went down after such a promising start. Not surprising that year stands out for freshman starts considering who graduated the year before.

 

[jdubct]

I don't know how many games they started as freshmen but I would think Lobo, Bascom and Wolters would have started at least some of those games.