Kibitzer
Sky Soldier
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2011
- Messages
- 5,676
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A recent comment by a UConn player's dad (either Gabby's or Kia's - I forget) got me to thinkin'. His comment was that his daughter was "nasty" when playing. And I loved it!
Here on the Boneyard we are of course blessed by the frequent presentations of our stats experts who not only ferret out a host of arcane numbers but process them analytically to make these data meaningful and comprehensible. We thus acquire deeper insights about all facets of UConn wcbb.
I am grateful to our resident "stats geeks" for their diligence and perspicacity.
Partly because I am too lazy to perform all that due diligence, I take a different approach to player/recruit evaluation. I used to simply rely on the old-fashioned (and convenient) "eye test," and it served me well. When Kaleena was a mere freshman I received some derisive remarks when I opined that she was the best perimeter shooter I ever saw (eye test). More recently (about one year ago) I caught some flak when I insisted that "Morgan is too good to not start." My eyes had it!
Next, Bill Russell helped me refine my eye test. During the clamorous discussions about whether NFL teams should draft an openly gay college player, Russ suggested that only one consideration mattered: "Can he play?"
Looking back again, I recall my two cents of wisdom I inserted into a thread about what Kiah Stokes should do to maximize her potential, AKA "upside." I admired her phyaical attributes (especially her gorgeous smile) but suggested that she needed to become an on the court badass to fulfill her potential. Which she has done!
Looking back again, we have had other great players with angelic smiles who were Honest-to-God badasses once the game clock started ticking: Sue, Rebecca, Jenn, Svet - and countless others. Tough call as to which was the baddest bad ass of all between Diana and Maya. Of our current players, there can be no question that Stewie, Moriah, Morgan and Kia now qualify for badass rating. The jury is still out on our bench players and incoming recruits, including Natalie - though it appears that Gabby and Napheesa are already on the cusp.
In summary, I suggest two steps to use when evaluating players or recruits: (1) Consider the stats and analysis; then (2) apply the eye test to answer two questions - Can she play? and, if she can, Is she a badass?
Thoughts, anyone?
(PS - I'll be away for a few days so I'll catch up next week. I hope)
Here on the Boneyard we are of course blessed by the frequent presentations of our stats experts who not only ferret out a host of arcane numbers but process them analytically to make these data meaningful and comprehensible. We thus acquire deeper insights about all facets of UConn wcbb.
I am grateful to our resident "stats geeks" for their diligence and perspicacity.
Partly because I am too lazy to perform all that due diligence, I take a different approach to player/recruit evaluation. I used to simply rely on the old-fashioned (and convenient) "eye test," and it served me well. When Kaleena was a mere freshman I received some derisive remarks when I opined that she was the best perimeter shooter I ever saw (eye test). More recently (about one year ago) I caught some flak when I insisted that "Morgan is too good to not start." My eyes had it!
Next, Bill Russell helped me refine my eye test. During the clamorous discussions about whether NFL teams should draft an openly gay college player, Russ suggested that only one consideration mattered: "Can he play?"
Looking back again, I recall my two cents of wisdom I inserted into a thread about what Kiah Stokes should do to maximize her potential, AKA "upside." I admired her phyaical attributes (especially her gorgeous smile) but suggested that she needed to become an on the court badass to fulfill her potential. Which she has done!
Looking back again, we have had other great players with angelic smiles who were Honest-to-God badasses once the game clock started ticking: Sue, Rebecca, Jenn, Svet - and countless others. Tough call as to which was the baddest bad ass of all between Diana and Maya. Of our current players, there can be no question that Stewie, Moriah, Morgan and Kia now qualify for badass rating. The jury is still out on our bench players and incoming recruits, including Natalie - though it appears that Gabby and Napheesa are already on the cusp.
In summary, I suggest two steps to use when evaluating players or recruits: (1) Consider the stats and analysis; then (2) apply the eye test to answer two questions - Can she play? and, if she can, Is she a badass?
Thoughts, anyone?
(PS - I'll be away for a few days so I'll catch up next week. I hope)
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