For her to play the way she did Wednesday, knowing that Aaliyah and Lou could not contribute significantly on the offensive end, was laudable. She became an offensive weapon, scoring 14 points on 6-9 shooting while dishing out 9 dimes and having 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Adding her points and assists, she had a full or partial responsibility for half of our points because she also was responsible for 6 changes of possession. Her energy level and conditioning is mind blowing and her will is second to none. She just has to be First Team All Big East. Once she gets a true pull up J over the summer and some more complete drive moves she will be a WNBA player.
Nika Muhl
- Thread starter Bigpetunia
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you are 100% right......it IS unpopular.
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Some players are just better suited to different styles of offenses. Nika and Aubrey are at their best in uptempo games. So many times I see Nika on a push, but the other players can't keep up. She has a serious motor. Next year, with healthy players I anticipate a much more up-tempo UCONN offense.
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Can't wait for that. Now that we see the new motoring Nika, if she has knock down shooters like Azzi and Paige and slashers like Aubrey and Caroline on the break, who knows how many assists she could have in a game. 20? Not far fetched at all.
For sure. Paige is brilliant looking ahead on the break too. Like Larry Bird was, but Bird didn't have to play the point either.
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Yes, just read it. Very positive.
I was pretty close to the court at the Seton Hall away game and I looked at her eyes when she got the ball in transition. Always focused up court and you can see her visualizing where the play is going to be. More like Jason Kidd than Larry Legend to me. Bird was seeing two plays in advance. Next year for her.
Tremendous!
Nothing like live sports. Damn I miss it, living in AK. I'll be back sooner or later. Maybe NH.
If you think you like them on TV, there's no comparison in person. I took three friends, two of whom played mens D1 and the other of whom played high school ball. We went for great pizza beforehand on the way to the game. For all 3, it was their first women's game live. They loved watching UCONN. Who did they like the best? Nika. "She plays like a guy" they all said. She had 13 assists, 6 boards, and completely shut down Park-Lane. Her facial expressions are the best which you get to see when you are up close. Right before the end of the first quarter Nika tried to thread a bullet bounce pass to Aaliyah and it led her too much and was a turnover. Geno screamed at her and her face said " Give me a break Dude, we are up 16 and I am on fire tonight with the ball".
She is basically saying "don't tell me to go over the pick, I can handle a switch onto a big man". Scary. I love it.
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She's a riot!! I'm not 4'5"
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Brilliant! I love it!
When I lived in MD I used to go to Philly to see UConn-Temple every year. Went 3X. Gabby, Guns.
Light crowds there. I loved seeing the little girls with UConn jerseys. I liked getting there early and watching their methodical warmup routine, and how they run everywhere together as a team.
huskeynut
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I have to ask - are you serious?
Nika showed her leadership skills in the second half of her freshman year. The team played better with her on the court. That continued last year and this year there should be no question in any one's mind about Nika's abilities.
In addition, Geno has repeatedly said going back two years that he likes the team better when Nika is out there. She has that contagious fire in the belly.
Bald Husky
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Wow, you know nothing. Nika didn't start because of injuries, she started because Geno wanted Paige to move over to the SG position.
He only played her when the injuries started.
Nika is the leader of this team and they will go as far as she can take them. She has grit and when she talks the other players listen and try to play with her passion. Leadership is one thing that isn't in the stat line but probably is the most important trait in a point guard and for that I think she certainly will be finalist for any PG award.
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It is time to put a "reminder" on... to VOTE at HOOPHALLAWARDS daily. I just read where
the next round of 'selections", i.e., down from 10 to 5 is determined by the committee and
that the "fan vote" will be equal to the vote of one committee member voter. Your VOTE counts. It
is probably also essential for both Aaliyah and Dorka as well.... The competition is very fierce. We need for
all of the UCONN players to get to the FINAL FIVE players.
Sorry if this sounds critical, but IMO Geno needed to exploit his advantage at point guard more. Nika was ready for a career game. Heck she scored 9 points in the first quarter. The packed in D that Geno used IMO did not take enough advantage of his favorable matchups. Would have been so fun to see Nika hawk Johnson. I bet she could have frustrated Johnson. Steals?
And by so doing you force their posts to come out. Darn.
And by so doing you force their posts to come out. Darn.
BRS24
LisaG
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Perhaps, but there's also a risk of Nika fouling more than the team could absorb?
Exactly. That is one of the problems with no back up that can play effectively in that game.
That hasn't been happening THIS YEAR. Was it more fun watching her get fouls wrestling with SC bigs inside?
You play the good cards you are dealt!
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+1.
If someone doesn't like Geno’s substitution patterns and/or you think Nika is a bit overrated/ (i.e Ines being overrated on here), then the view of Nika’s minutes would be tainted to suggest she wouldn't play much. .
The fact is, after Paige got hurt vs Tenn, the next game Nika started and played 36 minutes vs GTown. The next game they play Ark, and she played the 4th most minutes (more than 4 other players). If it was all about injuries then she would have gone immediately to the bench when Paige came back and she wouldn't have been 4th in minutes either. The next game she was 6th in minutes- more than Edwards. And after that she became the regular starter. Where's this stuff about "injury?"
As for this year’s team - anyone that thinks that Nika wouldn't have gotten minutes imo is way off base. UCONN would have had one of their greatest teams of all-time. We see what Azzi was doing, and what Paige has done (their level of play was off-the-charts great). What Caroline is capable of. Of course Geno would have played small ball more too. Those that speak of Geno’s history of minutes surely know he has no qualms playing small ball. And this team would have been destroying so many other teams so early, do we understand how many teams would have been wiped out by halftime and many earlier? Imagine the other teams that had UCONN on their schedule with 5/6 games in 12 days???? It would be like the old days whne you used to sympthize with the opposition.
How anyone can think that with the firepower UCONN would have had on top of UCONN playing small ball would have been with Paige, Azzi, Lou, Caroline, Aubrey, Edwards and even Dorka- with a true pg that relishes to "feed the ball;" that Nika wouldn’t have seen minutes? Combined with the strength of the team that would have been extreme scoring from their wings imo is way off base not realizing what a pass first pg would do for overall "prolific wings." . And let's not mention her defense. Nika's style of play would have fit beautifully to all the firepower while her defense is top shelf.
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Bald Husky
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I'm not talking about last year if that is what you are referring to. Freshmen year, Nika started to get Paige to shoot more. That was Genos solution, to have Nika run the point so Paige could get more shooting opportunities.
DennieEddy
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Can't subscribe, sorry.
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The statement Nika only started because Paige was injured is true for both her underclass seasons.
Nika's first start in her Freshmen year was game 10 when Paige was out. She then went back to the bench for the next 2 games.
Nika's second start in her Freshman year was game 13 when Williams was out. She then stayed in the starting lineup for most of the remainder of the season.
The fifth starter that season was Makurat (6), Edwards (6) or Griffin (5) and eventually Muhl (15).
Note: Twice two of those listed started together in Games 10 (Griffin & Muhl) & 13 (Edwards & Muhl).
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Geno Auriemma on Nika Mühl: “She’s had an incredible year … Nika’s our identity. She’s the one that drives us.”
How much pressure do you think this kid is under this season? She's been asked to play more minutes than any other teammate and all but 9 minutes in the last 10 games, (6 minute break in one game and one minute each in three others), the team has been working through a rough patch and you're coach says you are the 'identity' of the team and 'the one that drives us'
Nika isn't immune to all the struggles that her teammates have endured (limited help from the bench, injures to key teammates, physical, mental and emotional fatigue). Even as Geno finds a few minutes here and there to rest the other starters, Nika remains on the floor. I don't believe it is because Geno doesn't feel she needs a break - IMO it's because he doesn't feel he can not have her on the floor.
In various press conferences throughout the season she has said she welcomes pressure and the challenges placed on her, but despite her reputation for endless energy and a no quit attitude, she actually is human so, IMO, it has to be a heavy burden to carry.
Hopefully Azzi will return soon, Caroline will continue to get back to the player she was and the other reserves will build on the contributions they are now making. If we can get back to full strength TO's should drop, assists rise, offensive production increase and we can finish out the seasons with smiles and joy..... and Nika might get a breather here and there.
How much pressure do you think this kid is under this season? She's been asked to play more minutes than any other teammate and all but 9 minutes in the last 10 games, (6 minute break in one game and one minute each in three others), the team has been working through a rough patch and you're coach says you are the 'identity' of the team and 'the one that drives us'
Nika isn't immune to all the struggles that her teammates have endured (limited help from the bench, injures to key teammates, physical, mental and emotional fatigue). Even as Geno finds a few minutes here and there to rest the other starters, Nika remains on the floor. I don't believe it is because Geno doesn't feel she needs a break - IMO it's because he doesn't feel he can not have her on the floor.
In various press conferences throughout the season she has said she welcomes pressure and the challenges placed on her, but despite her reputation for endless energy and a no quit attitude, she actually is human so, IMO, it has to be a heavy burden to carry.
Hopefully Azzi will return soon, Caroline will continue to get back to the player she was and the other reserves will build on the contributions they are now making. If we can get back to full strength TO's should drop, assists rise, offensive production increase and we can finish out the seasons with smiles and joy..... and Nika might get a breather here and there.
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