psconn
Proud Connecticut WBB Fan
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Nika Muhl is Fun to Watch
- Thread starter Brewski
- Start date
Nika can provide some rest for starters as a substitute and can get substantial minutes subbing a few minutes here and there for Christyn, Azzi, Caroline, Evina, and Paige. It doesn't help our team when a core group plays too much/too long and we are tired in the last quarter. That said, it might be tricky maintaining the same chemistry with different combinations of players. Nika would enhance her role by becoming more assertive, if possible, on the scoring end, although if she is generating points by playing good defense and causing turnovers, what difference is it really if the points she produces come on the offensive or the defensive end of things?
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Think back to the start of this season. The pundits were all wondering how Geno was going to keep his guard-rich roster all happy, referring to Paige, CW, E, Azzi, Ducharme, Saylor, and at the bottom of the totem pole, Nika. How was Nika going to fit into this picture? Fast forward 20+ games into the season, and the only backcourt lock on the starting lineup is Nika. Funny how things turn out.
Although she may not score as much, she reminds me of Kelly Faris, with her intensity.
Although she may not score as much, she reminds me of Kelly Faris, with her intensity.
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IMHO, the Huskies go on these incredible runs when they are at their best.Suffocating defense leading to turnovers, transition baskets , full court pressure. Vicious cycle for the opponent.
Before and after the runs, there seems to be a period of , how shall I put this, less intensive or aggressive play. Are they just catching their breath? Does the intensity of their play wear them down for a few minutes?
Are they losing focus before they can reload?
Once (if?) everybody returns, I see Nika coming off the bench in a role similar to Aubrey's. Raise H_ll, speed up the offense, contest everything, shots, passes, dribbles on defense. Go as hard as you can for as long as you can. Maybe 20-25 minutes on the floor in INTENSE 5 minute increments. Just when they think they have the answers, we change the questions.
Maybe the NCAA Final game ends with Nika sporting 2 black eyes.
And a big grin.
Before and after the runs, there seems to be a period of , how shall I put this, less intensive or aggressive play. Are they just catching their breath? Does the intensity of their play wear them down for a few minutes?
Are they losing focus before they can reload?
Once (if?) everybody returns, I see Nika coming off the bench in a role similar to Aubrey's. Raise H_ll, speed up the offense, contest everything, shots, passes, dribbles on defense. Go as hard as you can for as long as you can. Maybe 20-25 minutes on the floor in INTENSE 5 minute increments. Just when they think they have the answers, we change the questions.
Maybe the NCAA Final game ends with Nika sporting 2 black eyes.
And a big grin.
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UConn women’s basketball’s Nika Mühl proving her indispensability: ‘She’s just somebody you want out on the floor, period’
Geno Auriemma is always one to push his players to impact the game in different ways, especially beyond scoring, and there’s no one who embodies that idea more on this year’s team than Mühl, who as of late has been playing some of her best basketball when this year’s Huskies need it most. .-.
CL82
James Breeding sucks
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Played golf with a guy that played in pickup games with Tommy Heinsohn there.
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Responding to the question as to why a fan has 80 % negative post about Nika. I was trying to be funny.
eebmg
Fair and Balanced
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Nika article
“She is a very impulsive, emotional player, and sometimes they get the best of her,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She gets herself in a jam. I thought the Marquette game Sunday was a great game for her because she did everything. She managed the game really, really well. I think her ability to make open threes — she has made more than she did last year. … But she thinks she has a great mid-range game. I’m not convinced she is Gail Goodrich or Sue Bird yet, but she says she’s really good at it. We’ll see.
“She is just somebody you want out on the floor, period. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and say, ‘OK, we just have to take some of that.’ ”
“She is a very impulsive, emotional player, and sometimes they get the best of her,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She gets herself in a jam. I thought the Marquette game Sunday was a great game for her because she did everything. She managed the game really, really well. I think her ability to make open threes — she has made more than she did last year. … But she thinks she has a great mid-range game. I’m not convinced she is Gail Goodrich or Sue Bird yet, but she says she’s really good at it. We’ll see.
“She is just somebody you want out on the floor, period. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and say, ‘OK, we just have to take some of that.’ ”
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No Geno said Nika is the leader of the team although some other people think they are
.-.
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The big difference is Nika knows the offense too,Aubrey didn't
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I've seen that often quoted but wouldn't Geno say the same thing about Paige?
Did Geno mean that Nika is "the leader" as in the only leader or "a leader" as in one of the leaders?
The context of a statement means a lot, and when Nika is on the court as PG then she is the leader, especially if others are injured.
If each player were asked who leads the team then everyone may give a different answer.
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RockyMTblue2
Don't Look Up!
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The observation of her European teammate:
“She has some craziness. I think that’s as a European, I can really appreciate that,” said graduate transfer Dorka Juhász, who is from Hungary. “But also she’s just great and she’s all about the team. She’s not about career-highs, scoring. She loves passing the ball crazy ways. On defense, she’s just such a stable person and every time someone scores, when you look over she’s celebrating, she’s crazy about it. So I think she’s a very, very important piece of our team.”
www.courant.com
“She has some craziness. I think that’s as a European, I can really appreciate that,” said graduate transfer Dorka Juhász, who is from Hungary. “But also she’s just great and she’s all about the team. She’s not about career-highs, scoring. She loves passing the ball crazy ways. On defense, she’s just such a stable person and every time someone scores, when you look over she’s celebrating, she’s crazy about it. So I think she’s a very, very important piece of our team.”
UConn women’s basketball’s Nika Mühl proving her indispensability: ‘She’s just somebody you want out on the floor, period’
Geno Auriemma is always one to push his players to impact the game in different ways, especially beyond scoring, and there’s no one who embodies that idea more on this year’s team than Mühl, who as of late has been playing some of her best basketball when this year’s Huskies need it most.
Way to downplay Auriemma’s comment, the difference being he has talked publicly about Muhl‘s unique contributions, including her leadership, several times over two years; which “fans” like you keep trying to explain away. Meanwhile, speculation about what he might say about Bueckers is nothing but just that, speculation.
Bueckers is an absolutely terrific player, but Uconn is not a one player team or program and terrific talent does not necessarily a leader make. I am not saying she is or isn’t but to question Auriemma’s true meaning because he praised someone other than Bueckers is, well……….I guess it speaks for itself.
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Geno has clearly stated that he didn't like how the offense functioned without Paige.
Even though his opinion may change over time, he very well may still feel that way.
Also, E earned the nickname "Mama E" because of her level of maturity, which helped to keep the team's spirits up during the extended period of injuries including Nika's when she missed a lot of games.
Nika is clearly a leader, but certainly not to the same degree that he has referred to Paige as being the most important cog in the offense which he said he doesn't like without her.
And that's why Nika will eventually end up sitting on the bench more when Paige is back to 100%, whether that's this year or next year.
Nika is more of a defensive specialist, and when Paige isn't on the court then Nika fills in admirably.
Nika is very vocal which helps to make her a leader, especially when Paige isn't on the court.
And then when Paige is on the court, I think that the players will look to her for leadership, especially if Nika isn't.
Leadership demands a level of skills that need to be delivered on demand when needed.
Nika certainly has some, just as some of the other players do too, whether it's to a higher or lower degree depends on what needs to be accomplished and who is expected to execute.
While they all contribute, some do more than others depending on their role.
If someone becomes a part time player then they're not going to have quite as much of a leadership role.
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MSGRET
MSG, US Army Retired
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Geno has stated many times he wants Paige to be more of a shooter and that Nika be the facilitator. He stated last year that the team didn't run as smooth without Nika on the floor both in offense and defense.
I don't know what you have against Nika, but you seem to always want to put her down because you clearly don't listen to what Geno says about her making the team better even with Paige on the floor.
.-.
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Geno's comments are made in a time frame which means that they can change over time.
Geno doesn't qualify every answer to the press with a ton of extra words because some things that are left out are just common sense.
Nika wasn't the leader when she was injured, just like Paige isn't the leader when she's injured.
Leadership goes back and forth depending on who is taking charge.
Actions speak louder than words and some lead by example, especially Geno, he's the real leader and his actions count the most.
Some of his words are simply for the media and for public consumption.
Even the players have said that about some of his statements such as when he's overly critical after a loss.
The players don't take his words as personally as some of the fans do.
They players have said that's just Geno's way of showing how much he cares about them.
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