Natalie takes off

[UcMiami]

That's a tatoo. Geno gave his permission as a reward for the season she is going to have.

Yup - a tattoo, but the source and permission attributes you give are wrong! It is one that she received from her opponents in the low post and is an honor bestowed on brave and fearless warriors after particularly successful campaigns.

 

[UcMiami]

Where's that guy who lambasted, denigrated and disparaged Natalie, and called her "a mistake," about a week ago?

Hiding?

 

[BroadwayVa]

heck of a box out by Kia, protecting Pheesa to shoot without challenge.

Those are the thing--both Kia and Natalie do that are over looked except for posters like you. Big reason Kia is in the games!!!
My hopes and expectations for Ms Butler are being met nicely...

 

[BroadwayVa]

As an excuse for a whole program, I agree with you. I do think that certain individual players might be afflicted with Overthinking Syndrome, though. I can even (hypothetically speaking) imagine Geno calling out a player for it, if he thought it would be good motivation for her.

Think Tamika Williams and Geno!

 

[NHFan]

I've been extremely impressed with Butler this season. She has shown an ability to defend and rebound against an elite front line which bodes well for future games against ND and SC. If she can continue to take up space it will also allow Collier to continue her solid start on the boards. I also expect Gabby to settle down and provide more help on the boards. I like where things seem to be heading!

 

[huskeynut]

Where's that guy who lambasted, denigrated and disparaged Natalie, and called her "a mistake," about a week ago?

Hopefully hanging his head in shame.

 

[BigBird]

...Really sorry to rant, but this just drives me nuts. Schools like ND, Stanford, Duke have this mystique that their student/athletes are somehow academically superior and therefore it's harder to succeed athletically because they have to be great at both.

Yes! I'm with you Bags. If we are talking service acadamies, then maybe there is something credible about what is otherwise a PR ruse. Anyone who thinks that a footballer at Northwestern has a tougher mission than a plebe at Navy has no flaming clue.

For years, the "academic rigor" theme was (and is) perpetuated by the NCAA and the "elite" schools themselves. Self-serving rubbish.

 

[Waquoit]

Totally agree. Geno is somewhat like Bill Belichek in that in addition to positive results, he demands consistency and predictability. Natalie is doing all three-solid performance against Top 10 talent that you can count on.

To add-on to the Pats theme, I think Butler is embodying the motto "Do Your Job". She's doing a nice job on defense. I like the way she looks to help while not losing sight of her own man.

 

[j66kicker]

I'm reminded of something I believe Tara Vanderveer said about her players: as far as basketball goes, they are sometimes too smart for their own good. The Stanford players tend to have some powerful brains (in the analytical or computational sense), and it perhaps gets in the way on the basketball court. Too much thinking about how they're playing instead of actually playing.

Could it be that Natalie is the same way? She sometimes hesitates in that sort of way, like Geew said. I think that if she had gotten the attention of the college recruiters earlier on, she might have ended up going to a school like Stanford. But oh well. Their loss was Georgetown's gain...and then UConn's gain.

Mickey Mantle said every year at the All Star game Ted Williams would sit next to him in the dugout and try to explain the science of hitting to him. Mick said he never got a hit for 2 weeks after the All Star game because he was thinking about it ("I just go up there and hit.").

 

[UcMiami]

Mickey Mantle said every year at the All Star game Ted Williams would sit next to him in the dugout and try to explain the science of hitting to him. Mick said he never got a hit for 2 weeks after the All Star game because he was thinking about it ("I just go up there and hit.").

Bull Durham (the movie) was full of those lines - between Kevin's monologues while in the batters box to Meat's 'Don't think, just pitch'.

 

[hoophuskee]

During the first half, one of the TV broadcasters said words to the effect that Natalie seemed out of shape. And I note that despite being productive in the first half, Natalie played only 6 or 7 minutes in the second half. Anybody see what the broadcasters were seeing? And if not, why the reduced minutes in the second half?

I never got this impression the implication that she was out of shape. As ucmiami said- she was winded. She's big. She plays successive minutes especially vs top teams with adrenaline etc, she can get winded.

 

[Kibitzer]

Mickey Mantle said every year at the All Star game Ted Williams would sit next to him in the dugout and try to explain the science of hitting to him. Mick said he never got a hit for 2 weeks after the All Star game because he was thinking about it ("I just go up there and hit.").

Willie Mays was asked how he was so successful. His response:

"When they throw it, I hit it. When they hit it, I catch it. After I catch it, I throw it."​

Next question?

 

[BlueDolphin]

Mickey Mantle said every year at the All Star game Ted Williams would sit next to him in the dugout and try to explain the science of hitting to him. Mick said he never got a hit for 2 weeks after the All Star game because he was thinking about it ("I just go up there and hit.").

Yogi: How can you hit and think at the same time?

 

[TroyHouse66]

Ray56-
<<--is that a major bruise on the side of Natalie's knee, or something on the photog's lens?>>
I believe it is a new commendation instituted by the coaching staff.
The "Purple Knee" is awarded to players, such as "The Nat" who insist on biffing it up with the Bigs, in the Box, to benefit big league basketball. (Few know about it- it's awarded on a kneed-to-know basis.)


Kibzer-
<<Where's that guy who lambasted, denigrated and disparaged Natalie, and called her "a mistake," about a week ago?>>
I believe he now has been relocated by the Federal Witless program & lives, under covers in Wacko, Texas.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Ray56-
<<--is that a major bruise on the side of Natalie's knee, or something on the photog's lens?>>
I believe it is a new commendation instituted by the coaching staff.
The "Purple Knee" is awarded to players, such as "The Nat" who insist on biffing it up with the Bigs, in the Box, to benefit big league basketball. (Few know about it- it's awarded on a kneed-to-know basis.)

Good one.

 

[ed4ourgirls]

She must be 4 inches off the floor! (lol)

That's four times higher than she was jumping last year.

If she continues to improve at this rate, by the end of next year we could have
a 6'5" version of Kalana Greene on our hands.

 

[Carnac]

Where's that guy who lambasted, denigrated and disparaged Natalie, and called her "a mistake," about a week ago?

Isn't it interesting that people who preach (or predict) doom & gloom, 0-4, somehow manage to either disappear, go dark or step back into the shadows, when their prophecies don't pan out? When they do have these flashes of neurological brilliance, they wonder why others can't see what they see.

 

[Shorty Dee]

I have been a Natalie supporter since day one. The only thing I wish Natalie would do is, bang back with the other centers/forwards, and move towards the basket instead of away from the basket.

Natalie, Please hear me when I say, it's ok to bang back. When Kara Wolters come to practice, hook up with her, so she can show and teach you how to bang with the big dawgs. If you don't want to talk to Kara, talk with CD and Marisa. Also, work on moving toward the basket when you grab a rebound.

 

[pacific 44]

Yogi also said,"Hitting is 90%mental and the other half is physical."

 

[Rayvin56]

I believe it is a new commendation instituted by the coaching staff.
The "Purple Knee" is awarded to players, such as "The Nat" who insist on biffing it up with the Bigs, in the Box, to benefit big league basketball. (Few know about it- it's awarded on a kneed-to-know basis.)

Thanks--and very funny. I know they get bruised quite a bit, especially players who spend a lot of time in the post, but this seems to be a particularly large one.

 

[donalddoowop]

Isn't it interesting that people who preach (or predict) doom & gloom, 0-4, somehow manage to either disappear, go dark or step back into the shadows, when their prophecies don't pan out? When they do have these flashes of neurological brilliance, they wonder why others can't see what they see.

I have not disappeared. I'm not ashamed of what I post. I'm just not good at prophesying.

 

[Kaizen]

I've loved Natalie's game from the start, and realized how much the thumb injury set her back last year!

I wish Natalie can learn from Dolson, "when get the ball from inside just shot or make a lay up", and this is all the audiences want.
You either made the shot or let opponents to foul you at your height.

 

[Geew1992]

Thanks--and very funny. I know they get bruised quite a bit, especially players who spend a lot of time in the post, but this seems to be a particularly large one.

My daughter plays the post. And those bruises are the norm

 

[Gus Mahler]

Reasons to like Natalie:

Off the court Natalie is a cute, wholesome-looking young woman who is also intelligent and well-spoken. She gives a good interview.

But in games, on the court or not, she just SMOLDERS with intensity and competitiveness. She'd be on my list of people to be in a foxhole with.

 

[rugbymate]

Reasons to like Natalie:

Off the court Natalie is a cute, wholesome-looking young woman who is also intelligent and well-spoken. She gives a good interview.

But in games, on the court or not, she just SMOLDERS with intensity and competitiveness. She'd be on my list of people to be in a foxhole with.

Interesting thought about who on the team you would like to share a foxhole with......amongst all the good choices I'd choose Kia..

 

[Gus Mahler]

Interesting thought about who on the team you would like to share a foxhole with.amongst all the good choices I'd choose Kia..

Not a bad choice at all.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Interesting thought about who on the team you would like to share a foxhole with.amongst all the good choices I'd choose Kia..

My choice is usually Sue. Geno would choose Diana. He said something to the effect of, "Of course, she would get both of us killed, but we'd have a great time before that happened."

 

[donalddoowop]

Natalie is not as gentle as some think. There was a game last season in which she pushed a player so hard that Stewart got on her about it. There were other times when I saw her throw elbows after absorbing contact she did not appreciate. I believe she will start to show more toughness the more she plays. Anything her game is lacking I believe the coaches are aware of and are working with her to improve in those areas. She did not earn freshman of the year in the Big East by being an unskilled player. Her freshman year the Big East was no worse a conference than the AAC.

 

[Bestiarius]

Interesting thought about who on the team you would like to share a foxhole with.amongst all the good choices I'd choose Kia..

When Kia was born, the only person who cried was the doctor. Never slap Kia.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I have not disappeared. I'm not ashamed of what I post. I'm just not good at prophesying.

How do you see the rest of the season unfolding?