Oh yeah- Kia Nurse looks really, really good, right?

[alexrgct]

Sorry if already discussed, but she was on fire against Lubbock Christian, wasn't she? I mean, of everything I saw on TCF's upload of the game, the promise of what she did playing for Canada this offseason seems for all the world to becoming realized. Playing smarter with even more poise and precision, deadly efficacy from midrange, just rock solid and reliable in all aspects of the game.

If she's as good she looked in the first exhibition game, I cackle at the depth we have in 2015-16. It means we have yet another GREAT player on the Huskies!

 

[JoePgh]

It has already been discussed, but yes, you are correct. The reliability of those mid-range pull-up jump shots (I prefer the older and more colorful term "stop-and-pop") was really impressive, and I hope it wasn't just a fluke. She used the backboard on several of those shots, which is important for avoiding shot blockers.

If Monday night is an indication of what we can expect on a regular basis, then, yes, we have a major resource that wasn't really there last year.

However, it will be important to limit her minutes so that she doesn't wear down by the end of the year, as happened last year. Her best games last year were in November and December. That is why I think Saniya will have a critical role this year as the third guard. If (as I now speculate) the starting front court is Morgan / Stewie / Gabby, and if Courtney is not really someone to be counted on, then in competitive games, the backcourt will really be handled by Moriah / Kia / Saniya. If they all get about 20-25 minutes (give or take), that will be a good outcome that should keep them fresh for the NCAA tournament.

 

[HoopsFan21]

It has already been discussed, but yes, you are correct. The reliability of those mid-range pull-up jump shots (I prefer the older and more colorful term "stop-and-pop") was really impressive, and I hope it wasn't just a fluke. She used the backboard on several of those shots, which is important for avoiding shot blockers.

If Monday night is an indication of what we can expect on a regular basis, then, yes, we have a major resource that wasn't really there last year.

However, it will be important to limit her minutes so that she doesn't wear down by the end of the year, as happened last year. Her best games last year were in November and December. That is why I think Saniya will have a critical role this year as the third guard. If (as I now speculate) the starting front court is Morgan / Stewie / Gabby, and if Courtney is not really someone to be counted on, then in competitive games, the backcourt will really be handled by Moriah / Kia / Saniya. If they all get about 20-25 minutes (give or take), that will be a good outcome that should keep them fresh for the NCAA tournament.

Kia to me looked the most improved. Of course it's hard to tell much given that's it one game and as Geno said the talent gap between his team and Lubbock Christian was really, really big. They can rest some of the starters come conference time, but for the next two months it's go time. If Gabby keeps improving at the guard position, perhaps we see a Kia-Gabby starting guard combo next year?

 

[Icebear]

The term pull up jumper is very old, stop and pop is just slang.

 

[Citrusdog]

The term pull up jumper is very old, stop and pop is just slang.

Johnny Most... on Jo Jo White. "stop and pop"

 

[Sonny44]

She really loves the glass [not just for lay-ups], more so than any of our stars that I can remember.

 

[Ctpaul0825]

As did Gabby Williams, nice looking soph class.

 

[OldAlum]

I rewatched some of last season's games. At one point, as UConn was well ahead, the announcers started talking about players having goals for a game beyond the score. They said that Kia shared that her goal was to make at least one bank shot each game. Looks like she's got a few in the bank this season!

 

[Gus Mahler]

She was a woman among girls, if you will.

A nasty piece of beastness!!

 

[intlzncster]

However, it will be important to limit her minutes so that she doesn't wear down by the end of the year, as happened last year. Her best games last year were in November and December. That is why I think Saniya will have a critical role this year as the third guard. If (as I now speculate) the starting front court is Morgan / Stewie / Gabby, and if Courtney is not really someone to be counted on, then in competitive games, the backcourt will really be handled by Moriah / Kia / Saniya. If they all get about 20-25 minutes (give or take), that will be a good outcome that should keep them fresh for the NCAA tournament.

She'll be fine. That's a freshman thing. Happens to everybody. Kia will be wire to wire this year.

And in general the kids can easily handle more than 20-25 minutes a game. They do every single year and it hasn't stopped UCONN from winning 10 titles.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She'll be fine. That's a freshman thing. Happens to everybody. Kia will be wire to wire this year.

And in general the kids can easily handle more than 20-25 minutes a game. They do every single year and it hasn't stopped UCONN from winning 10 titles.

Uh-oh, you used the "k" word!!!

 

[HoopsFan21]

I rewatched some of last season's games. At one point, as UConn was well ahead, the announcers started talking about players having goals for a game beyond the score. They said that Kia shared that her goal was to make at least one bank shot each game. Looks like she's got a few in the bank this season!

That was in the Texas game. Mo opened the 2nd half with a 3, then Nurse hit a shot off the glass in transition on the next possession.

 

[masshusk77]

I think that Kia is going to be a national POY contender in the upcoming years. When Stewie and Moriah leave it will be "her" team to lead and I think she'll pick up right where those two left off in terms of being the person that gets it done when it really needs to happen.

 

[huskyd]

The Core Four were each really amazing in that exhibition. I just couldn't believe what Mo was doing in getting to the basket; it drew gasps. Kia, too, has grown so much. Can you believe that she came in as the least regarded guard in her freshman class at UConn? I doubt that Geno would trade her for anyone now. Stewart: ah, Stewart. Her first year seems so fresh in my memory that the present edition is clearly not the same person. Talk about floating like butterflies, etc. Morgan has been a bit nicked, but her assertiveness and nimble footing around the hoop are still there. Gabby was a much improved model: her energy is an intangible not to be minimized. Core Four get four? You bet.

 

[Phillyconn]

Johnny Most... on Jo Jo White. "stop and pop"

I always heard, "he stops, pops, bang", when listening to Sixer broadcasts.

 

[HoopsFan21]

The Core Four were each really amazing in that exhibition. I just couldn't believe what Mo was doing in getting to the basket; it drew gasps. Kia, too, has grown so much. Can you believe that she came in as the least regarded guard in her freshman class at UConn? I doubt that Geno would trade her for anyone now. Stewart: ah, Stewart. Her first year seems so fresh in my memory that the present edition is clearly not the same person. Talk about floating like butterflies, etc. Morgan has been a bit nicked, but her assertiveness and nimble footing around the hoop are still there. Gabby was a much improved model: her energy is an intangible not to be minimized. Core Four get four? You bet.

And so it begins much like the myth about how no one wanted poor Stefanie Dolson. All of our competitors were recruiting Nurse. Before we were. That's how little regarded she was.

 

[dtbtbtb]

But according to ESPN Kia is not one of the top 25 players in college i don't understand how a player that was the best on team Canada (National team), who led them to gold in the PanAm games and to Rio is not getting much credit....

 

[Sluconn Husky]

But according to ESPN Kia is not one of the top 25 players in college i don't understand how a player that was the best on team Canada (National team), who led them to gold in the PanAm games and to Rio is not getting much credit....

She's had one year in college. Give her another and her rep will skyrocket.

 

[Citrusdog]

I always heard, "he stops, pops, bang", when listening to Sixer broadcasts.

Yeah... I think you are more accurate than mister brain damage.. good job!

 

[Gate81]

true, she's probably been omitted from top 25 but we won't know for sure. Still await 1-5, which will likely include

Stewart (no doubt)
Jefferson (no doubt)
Tiffany Mitchell (no doubt)
Kelsey Mitchell (probably)
Nina Davis (probably).

Note that Kia will make her omission look bad, but so potentially will Alexis Jones now at Baylor and Imani (nee Stafford-McGee) of TX...and possibly Mercedes Russell, who apparently is healthy and in form.

 

[Kibitzer]

Johnny Most... on Jo Jo White. "stop and pop"

I can still hear it:

"He stops! He pops! BANG!"​

 

[Huskies Rule]

Against Lubbock, Stewie and Moriah continued to spoil us with the same extraordinary level of play we are accustomed to. And as excellent as Gabby and Kia played last year, it was clear, if the very limited sample size Lubbock represented means anything, that these two are stepping up their game. Since Geno often says that he expects the really good ones to improve significantly from freshman to soph, he must be a happy guy.

Gabby hasn't perfected her mid-range game yet, but her energy, rebounding, defense and aggressiveness will be huge assets this year. As for Kia, that kid is absolutely relentless. Or as Gus aptly put it, "beastness." And that sweet bank shot she showed us brought to mind Boston Celtics great Sam Jones.

The injuries to Natalie, Saniya and DJ made me terribly ,and while Stewie, Moriah and Kia's play gave me reason to once again ,it was Gabby's game that really turned my to a .