Nika Muhl: Heart & Soul of the Huskies

[Bigboote]

I remember how Geno worked with Moriah Jefferson every year when she was at UConn. I recall her telling about how Geno took her to an NBA game to see a team's great point guard (forgot who) and pointed out things that he was doing, encouraging her to bring those elements into her game. His work with Nika is similar. Every year she is better because she works hard at it...and listens. She looks stronger this year. I think that the extra zip that she's putting on her passes comes from some work in the weight room. Her court vision is better, too.

That was a hard shot that she took on Sunday. Does anyone know if she's really okay now?

I've been wondering the same thing -- it looked to me as though she was icing the right side of her face during timeouts after the hits.

 

[TCC Kid]

As far as Muhl and fouling, she has made one major change, she has significantly reduced “playing the ball”; the number of times she is trying for steals off the dribble or stripping the ball. Those are plays that refs are going to call sometimes regardless of contract. Old school, but we learned and then taught, that you focused on the stomach of a player you were guarding because you can’t feint or fake direction with the stomach. With the advent of talking heads, highlights, and an overabundance of stats, steals and blocked shots came into vogue. IMO, both are fools good to a large extent because they lead to foul trouble. It kills me how many times defenders force an opponent into a very tough shot and than bail them out by fouling trying to block it. If a player makes that tough shot, tip your hat, and move on to the next play.

I agree with 90 percent of all you say because, that's NIKA.

Old school, high school, we were taught to watch the feet and the ball. The body never goes in a different direction than the feet. _Right or wrong?
Nika, isn't NIKA without the intensity, it's built into her. Yes she did stop the (sometimes seemingly foolish) midfloor attempt at steals. She has moved the intensity back a notch under the boards. But, nose to nose, she'll never give in, if taunted lookout.
Nika is the kind of player and PG I want on any team. I'm super happy she selected Uconn. If her sister plays with that intensity---maybe it's good she plays for another team--can you imagine the damage 2 Nika's could do? I like NIKA!!

 

[Redux]

I shall almost discount the ND game, that won't happen again. Aubrey is such a near complete total player from a year or 2 ago.

I certainly agree with that. However, this thread, and the long selection from me you quoted, are both about Nika. And I did not write anything like "the HS kid you wrote about" so either MY browser is acting up or you meant to reply to someone else in some other thread. No harm, no foul.

 

[MSGRET]

I remember how Geno worked with Moriah Jefferson every year when she was at UConn. I recall her telling about how Geno took her to an NBA game to see a team's great point guard (forgot who) and pointed out things that he was doing, encouraging her to bring those elements into her game. His work with Nika is similar. Every year she is better because she works hard at it...and listens. She looks stronger this year. I think that the extra zip that she's putting on her passes comes from some work in the weight room. Her court vision is better, too.

That was a hard shot that she took on Sunday. Does anyone know if she's really okay now?

I hope that UConn plays ND in the tournament and Nika gets back at Miles by running her into a hard screen set by AE.

 

[#12in21]

A lot more has been asked of Nika this season than many anticipated and in equal measure she has risen to the challenge. She already has played the most minutes and most minutes/game this season and now with Azzi down it doesn't look like her time on the court will decline. One thing I think we can count on is that Nika will step up and do whatever she can to help offset the loss of Azzi. She most certainly won't be the only one to feel additional pressure but given her statement earlier this season 'that pressure is a privilege', she certainly will be even more privledged over the next several weeks! Assuming our other scorers can join Lou and get back on track and Dorka gets back from her injury, I like our chances with Nika's no quit leadership setting the tone.