Nika Muhl is Fun to Watch

[Brewski]

Every year I pick an underdog freshman to follow during her first year as a Husky. Last year it was Nika. She came all the way overseas to the best program in the country, side by side with the best freshman player we've seen in years, and she did not flinch a bit. Whatever you may think about her basketball skills, there is one undeniable fact about this young lady; she loves to play basketball, and she's a lot of fun to watch. Here's to Nika playing another game today like the last one she played.

 

[Scud49]

Love her spirit and "no look" passes...!

 

[cometjo]

That no look pass to Aliyah Edwards looked like she’d been watching tape of Bob Cousy

 

[ritter]

Bob who? Kidding I’m 78 and was an avid Celtic fan.

 

[Blakeon18]

It was a pleasing trio against DePaul: I thought Dorka/Aaliyah and Nika had their best games of the year.

We have a nice break till our next game...Xavier on Friday. Sure hope CD and Liv are back for that.

 

[CTBballfan243]

It was a pleasing trio against DePaul: I thought Dorka/Aaliyah and Nika had their best games of the year.

We have a nice break till our next game...Xavier on Friday. Sure hope CD and Liv are back for that.

Did todays game get cancelled?

 

[huskeynut]

Nika is not only a pure joy to watch, she is the engine that drives the train. Her drive, her hustle, her intensity make it so.

Geno has said she is the leader of the team. Aaliya and Dorka confirmed that Nika is the leader in their post game DePaul interview.

 

[JellyBean]

Definitely! Nika is such a joy to watch. Love that she isn't too cool to make a mistake. She can laugh at herself and have fun out there. Doesn't take herself too seriously. Definitely a solid leader out there.

 

[Conndog]

She’s been great lately, getting more points, making bounce passes, cutting down on turnovers. With the team so shorthanded, her contributions are critical, and all her teammates seem to like and appreciate her.

 

[McFly]

Bob who? Kidding I’m 78 and was an avid Celtic fan.

Only 78? I listened to Holy Cross games on the radio with my father when Cousy played there.

 

[Scud49]

Geno has said she is the leader of the team. Aaliya and Dorka confirmed that Nika is the leader in their post game DePaul interview.

I have noticed she is very vocal and demonstrative when on the floor. During team "huddles" she seems to be the driving force with direction and instructions, etc. The kid is an all around joy and I love it when she is on the court - and boy, she can push that ball up the court with determination...!

 

[Boreifs]

Only 78? I listened to Holy Cross games on the radio with my father when Cousy played there.

The Lacrosse field at Holy Cross is named after my late Brother in law, who taught there for years and was chaplain to many of the sports teams, including womens basketball.

 

[Penn]

Summarizing Nika’s energetic and aggressive behavior toward an opponent on the court. She may seem as harmless as a rabbit but, in reality, is a force to be reckoned with by the other team.

 

[CL82]

Only 78? I listened to Holy Cross games on the radio with my father when Cousy played there.

I used to play before they invented basketballs. We used to play with boulders. It was nearly impossible to dribble, so passing was much more of an emphasis. And let me tell you, you had to be tough to rebound. We didn’t worry about concussions though. They weren’t invented yet.

 

[cohenzone]

Only 78? I listened to Holy Cross games on the radio with my father when Cousy played there.

You guys make me feel so young. I’m a year in between the last U S President and the current one, but no plans to run for office. Who is Bob Cousy? Kidding. Saw him play.

 

[Blakeon18]

Game is on...I was referring to after the game hiatus

Holy Cross dudes: ever seen Jack [The Shot] Foley play? Saw him in a reasonably close win over my alma mater in person. He could..well...really shoot!

 

[Spaceman213J]

Her style of play reminds me a lot Jen Rizzotti.

In baseball terms, she'd be a 'dirt dawg' for sure.

Must be fun to play with someone who just wants to keep playing.

 

[Shenandoah]

Her style of play reminds me a lot Jen Rizzotti.

In baseball terms, she'd be a 'dirt dawg' for sure.

Must be fun to play with someone who just wants to keep playing.

I've taken to calling her "Bulldog". She is as tough as I've ever seen on the court.

 

[Brewski]

She’s been great lately, getting more points, making bounce passes, cutting down on turnovers. With the team so shorthanded, her contributions are critical, and all her teammates seem to like and appreciate her.

Yes, well said. And she has cut down on her overt, mostly unnecessary, reactions when a Ref calls a foul on her. It was funny the first four times I saw her do it, but not so much after that. I am glad she's really trying to change this behavior, I am sure with emphatic help from the coaching staff.

 

[LoboDays]

Watching her during the time-outs in the NOVA game told me that she is someone I would want on my team. It looked like she Was ready to break the chair she was sitting on into many tiny pieces. I coached youth basketball and soccer. If I had a kid who played his heart out and cried after a loss, I made a note to try and get him on my team the following year. May not have been the most skilled but effort and emotion is something I wanted his teammates see.

 

[Hoops66]

I like Nika for the same reason I like Marcus Smart on the Celtics. Intangibles. When something is needed they go get it. They are like scrappy shortstops who aren't happy until they head back to the dugout covered with dirt. In their case it's floor burns. Every team needs to have a Nika/Smart to keep them in the game, no matter what.

 

[#12in21]

 

[McFly]

Holy Cross dudes: ever seen Jack [The Shot] Foley play? Saw him in a reasonably close win over my alma mater in person. He could..well...really shoot!

I was a couple of years behind Foley at Assumption Prep. I remember one game he started slow, only 9 points in the first half. Finished with 50, long before the 3 pointer. The first time I saw Breanna Stewart's jump shot, I had a flashback. It looked exactly like his.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Recall that Nika told Geno that she would rather get an assist than a basket. He asked why. She replied that, when she gets an assist, 2 people are happy--her and the shooter.

The first videos from Europe that I watched of Nika when she committed, I really liked her energy. When she ran the fast break and the team scored, I thought to myself, "She's celebrating as if she's going to Disneyland!"

 

[#12in21]

Take a look at the above video, postgame of Marquette 2/5/21. Nika's face is just so expressive, she's irreverent, exuberant and just so present in the moment. She loves her teammates, coachs and representing UCONN and I for one love that she is part of the team.