Paige Bueckers AP National Player of the Year

[UcMiami]

This made me think of something. What becomes of these media based awards if the NIL thing goes through and a media outlet could pay an athlete for maybe regular content provided? Possible conflict of interest?

So I have a question about this NIL thing - are Universities and HS and Pro teams going to start charging a fee on their logo, their uniform, their facilities that appear in any of these NIL properties? I mean fair is fair - lots of these kids got nothing till they start lighting it up in colleges. And the ones lighting it up in HS well the HS should be getting something, right?

 

[UcMiami]

Need a bigger mountain

Funny thing is, nobody but the sculptor ever selected those rushmore likenesses - most historians would switch out one or more. Sort of like if joe schmo did an actual mountain in CT and selected DT, Maya, Lobo, and then Faris, or Tuck, or Sales - important players, but not on everyone else's list of the greatest.

 

[Gus Mahler]

I don't know the rules regarding timing of banner hanging in the practice facility. But let's not forget, given that this is an NPOY thread, that earning such an honor gets you an additional banner there (eventually), above the AA banners. Even on video, it's a pretty impressive sight.

 

[enigmatic]

So proud of Paige for being the recipient of the AP NPOY award. I hope she will give me a early birthday present with a 12th UCONN national title. If I can get that and no other presents I'll be solely content. Looking very forward to see her progression over the next three seasons.

 

[UcMiami]

The WBCA is voted on by coaches. The process tends to be a bit more systematic and analytical.

On the other hand, the AP voters are sports journalists, who I would suggest are influenced significantly by the momentum of a media narrative that builds behind a particular candidate.

While all the other candidates are great players, the momentum behind Paige started during the SC game and continued to build unabated ever since.

But the AP writers are also mostly regional from around the country which tends to create a bit of Big12 or Pac12 or SEC or Big10 localized momentum or at least conversation. To have no one out there beating the drum for a senior (or junior) star, or even as has been noted here a sophomore from SC is a little odd. And I think the coaches are also subject to momentum votes.

 

[npignatjr]

This may very well be a contest between Paige and Azzi over the next 3 years.

Slow down. Azzi still coming back from major injury.

 

[Vowelguy]

It's not there because she has to graduate first.

And there needs to be an event .... with fans.

 

[BBallF]

Well, here is the Presser

Her poise, selflessness, congratulating Brenda Frese, thanking the NCAA, hitting all the right notes about her team without a hint of ego is really astonishing for someone her age.

 

[oldude]

But the AP writers are also mostly regional from around the country which tends to create a bit of Big12 or Pac12 or SEC or Big10 localized momentum or at least conversation. To have no one out there beating the drum for a senior (or junior) star, or even as has been noted here a sophomore from SC is a little odd. And I think the coaches are also subject to momentum votes.

Yes the 30 writers who make up the AP poll and vote on AA and POY are spread around the country. I don’t know if it necessarily creates an advantage for one conference or another.

As I understand the coaches, it is a multistep process that includes initial nominations, which is then paired down to finalists and then a final vote. I also believe that somewhere in there, the vote is by a committee. That committee used to be headed up by Geno’s golfing buddy at USF. I’m not sure if that’s still the case.

 

[BobbyJ]

So I have a question about this NIL thing - are Universities and HS and Pro teams going to start charging a fee on their logo, their uniform, their facilities that appear in any of these NIL properties? I mean fair is fair - lots of these kids got nothing till they start lighting it up in colleges. And the ones lighting it up in HS well the HS should be getting something, right?

Yeah, I've got all these possibilities swirling around in my little mind too. I don't understand a lot of it so far but I liked GA's comment about the very top players being like free agents coming out of HS with agents negotiating for them and a bunch of them winding up at a small group of schools that might have the ability to help them maximize their earnings. I'll just have to try to figure it out once all the boundaries are set.

 

[j66kicker]

Funny thing is, nobody but the sculptor ever selected those rushmore likenesses - most historians would switch out one or more. Sort of like if joe schmo did an actual mountain in CT and selected DT, Maya, Lobo, and then Faris, or Tuck, or Sales - important players, but not on everyone else's list of the greatest.

Well I guess being the sculptor has it’s privileges

 

[Puppy Love]

Well I guess being the sculptor has it’s privileges

I’m adding Tina Charles and Shea Ralph to my mountain.

 

[StarMan]

How wonderful for Paige - she certainly deserves the honor! UConn is so proud of you, Paige!

 

[Oldbones]

She got on the wall when named to the AP 1st team. She is now the owner of the greatest Freshman season ever and is looking pretty good to be the 4th person on the Mt. Rushmore of UConn WCBB joining Taurasi, Stewart and Moore.

One key element still needed IMO for "greatest freshman season ever."

 

[Dawson]

Insane that ESPN doesn't even have this as their main front page story on the NCAAW section. The same thing happened when THEY THEMSELVES named her the ESPNW NPOY.

 

[uconnfan68]

well, other than the 21 who got the vote right.

Huge fan of Paige, but zero votes for the most dominant post in the country?

 

[Kaizen]

Insane that ESPN doesn't even have this as their main front page story on the NCAAW section. The same thing happened when THEY THEMSELVES named her the ESPNW NPOY.

ESPN Hoopz has not updated Ayanna Patterson goes to UConn too.

 

[MSGRET]

Insane that ESPN doesn't even have this as their main front page story on the NCAAW section. The same thing happened when THEY THEMSELVES named her the ESPNW NPOY.

View attachment 66510

ESPN Hoopz has not updated Ayanna Patterson goes to UConn too.

View attachment 66512

You have to remember that ESPN (Disney) laid off about 1/3 of their staff last year so they are a little behind in getting stuff posted. Especially anything good about those traitors in Storrs.

 

[uconnfan68]

Like how Geno faked dropping the trophy. Geno and Paige have a special relationship. Payback for the pat on his bum. All in good fun.

Total “Dad” joke. Made her smile though.

 

[cbraarj]

No, and to be put on the wall you have to graduate. So Meg has to finish school before she goes up on the wall.

Rene was before graduation.

 

[MSGRET]

Rene was before graduation.

Rene was the first active player to receive hers and it was on Senior Day/Night just like everyone else that has received it. Everyone that has received the honor has had met the requirements, the Senior Day/Night ceremony is before the graduation ceremony. I believe the only exceptions were the honorees in the original induction ceremony in Dec 2006 and Tuck who got hers during the 2016 NC celebration at Gampel.

 

[Boreifs]

She got on the wall when named to the AP 1st team. She is now the owner of the greatest Freshman season ever and is looking pretty good to be the 4th person on the Mt. Rushmore of UConn WCBB joining Taurasi, Stewart and Moore.

Not accurate. The WCBA all-America team is used for the wall and that won’t be announced until the Tournament is over.

 

[Cuango]

Huge fan of Paige, but zero votes for the most dominant post in the country?

Who’s that?

 

[uconnfan68]

Who’s that?

Boston.

 

[cbraarj]

Rene was the first active player to receive hers and it was on Senior Day/Night just like everyone else that has received it. Everyone that has received the honor has had met the requirements, the Senior Day/Night ceremony is before the graduation ceremony. I believe the only exceptions were the honorees in the original induction ceremony in Dec 2006 and Tuck who got hers during the 2016 NC celebration at Gampel.

Rene was honored before Senior Night.

 

[Skeets]

So I have a question about this NIL thing - are Universities and HS and Pro teams going to start charging a fee on their logo, their uniform, their facilities that appear in any of these NIL properties? I mean fair is fair - lots of these kids got nothing till they start lighting it up in colleges. And the ones lighting it up in HS well the HS should be getting something, right?

There could be a whole bunch of unintended consequences for HS and college with NIL. As a free enterprise capitalist I don't have a problem with kids making a few bucks, but before we risk wrecking the game, this needs to be thoroughly thought out, probably by someone much smarter than me...

 

[Oldbones]

Are you forgetting SC has to beat Stanford first?

And.

 

[Oldbones]

Next year will be some tough for Paige to win since,
there are 2 people will fight this award, Paige and Azzi .

Like when Maya and Tina had to share. "Oh my God, what a ******* nightmare!" (Channeling Mona Lisa Vito in "My Cousin Vinny')

 

[Jimbo]

Many congratulations to Paige! It goes without saying, but we are beyond lucky to have her as a Husky. She seems to be such an extraordinary person and teammate, both on and off the court, and this unprecedented accomplishment has been well earned.

I think it’s cute that so called UConn fans have no idea how it actually works when it’s in the media guide. AP First Team puts you on the wall.

Really? I just ran a text search through this year's media guide for both "Huskies of Honor" and "wall" and came up empty (for anything relevant to this question, anyway). Of course the media guide lists all of UConn's past AP All-Americans, but it doesn't discuss this as a criterion for going up on the wall, as far as I can tell. Naturally, I'm happy to stand corrected if you can cite the page in the media guide where it says what you say it says.

For what it's worth, here's an excerpt from a post I made back in 2018:

As much fun as it’s been to speculate year after year about which All-American teams qualify a player for the Huskies of Honor, I was growing a little weary of it, so I decided to contact Pat McKenna at UConn to find out. His response:

"The WBCA, USBWA, AP and Wooden Teams are the ones we give the most credence to. The WBCA is the one we use when determining entry into the Huskies of Honor though as that is a 10-member team. Everyone in the Huskies of Honor was a member of the WBCA All-America Team."

Granted, this was three years ago, but I don't really feel like bothering UConn's athletic department about this issue again to find out if anything's changed.

 

[temery]

I may be alone on this, but I really wish this honor not be released until after the champion is decided.

Too much pressure put on the winner, and the team is considered a failure if they can't win with the proclaimed best player in the country.