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Projecting Gabby

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Huskies Rule said:
While I enjoy reading just about anything concerning UConn WBB (and everything Java posts), and even though there was lots of interesting stuff on that 'a dime back' site, the individual scoring projections (guess-at-stats) are IMO pretty ridiculous.

Considering only the players the author discusses, and that excludes Stewie, Moriah and Kia, he projects the rest of the team will average 66.7 ppg.
If Stewie (17+ppg), Moriah (12 ppg) and Kia (10ppg) approximate last year's numbers, those three alone will score around 39 ppg. 66.7 + 39 = 105.7 ppg.

The site has Lou pegged at 21.3 ppg. I love that kid, and I believe she'll have a fantastic freshman campaign, but 21 ppg? NO WAY! Stewie won't be averaging that many.
The site also guesses Napheesa at 3.2 ppg. That's half as many points per game as it predicts for either Saniya or Courtney. NO WAY! Napheesa's gonna be an invaluable, versatile contributor to this year's squad, and I'd guess she'll be around 10 ppg. Three ppg's would be a humongous disappointment, which I don't see.

It would be fun to watch, but scoring 105+ points per game absolutely is not happening. Even if it were possible, Geno wouldn't allow it(except Vandy). Heck, last year's juggernaut averaged only 89+ ppg (and the previous 2 years' teams managed 82 ppg.)
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Hey look! We talked about this in our preseason roundtable!

http://wbb.adimeback.com/roundtable-2015-16-wbb-season-preview/

You guys are fun.
 
Buzzyboy said:
I don't get this presumption that Geno has a preference for the run and gun offense. It seems to me that he's had great success with Kara Walters and Stef Dolson and didn't show any inclination for that run and gun. It's obvious that there might be opponents where he'll go with a smaller (and quicker) lineup but to suggest that he has this preference doesn't ring true to me and many others here! There's been many people here who were paranoid that UConn wasn't recruiting enough big girls and how would we manage to survive without them. Yet, there is people like yourself that seem to suggest that we should be looking for smaller, faster and more athletic people in our front court. Strange!
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Thorough breds running and more uptempo or athletic does not the same as "run & gun". The gun means you take the first shot available where as run means you take the layup or create an easy opportunity before the defense gets a chance to set up. UCONN teams have always been running teams even with Dolson & Walters. UCONN teams have never been run & gun teams. To run you have to secure the rebound first. Butler is a rebounding machine, & as Pat Riley who coached perhaps the best running team of all time-Showtime Lakers- would say "no rebounds..no rings".
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Thanks for the preseason piece. Interesting that 4/5 pick KLS to be the 5th starter. That differs from the general sentiment around here.

Also, tell your peeps that Collier is the real deal. She's going to be terrific from day one.
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We've had a lot of discussion about Collier over the last day because of you guys. We all came away wondering what makes you all so sure she's the real deal and more ready to contribute from day 1? We aren't bashing you. Legit question.
 
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Buzzyboy said:
I don't agree that there will be that big a growth from either Kia or Gabby. They'll be improved, I'm sure but not to the extent that you'll see from Courtney. They had already played quite well, as freshman and unless Gabby is consistently throwing down 18 foot jump shots and scoring at will, her growth won't have been THAT BIG! Kia similarly showed toughness and shot the ball reasonably well while playing good solid defense. How much better can she get in those areas??? Meanwhile Courtney struggled, maybe as a direct result of her injury and never shot the ball anywhere the way you'd have expected considering what we'd seen in video clips and also based on remarks by Geno prior to her injury. Healthy again and with a year under her belt, learning the UConn system and in the best health of her life, she will probably easily exceed what we saw of her last year where her game results were lacking the expectations of most Boneyarders prior to the start of last season. Courtney easily has the best chance of radically improving on her contributions from last year. I also think that though Geno might occasionally want a quicker lineup, hence starting Gabby inside, he primarily will be playing Butler in the post. Not having seen Butler play, why is it that most Boneyarders seem to be dismissive of her ability to really be a big factor and a nice mismatch for our Huskies against almost anyone??? Big East freshman of the year and a double double player with a year of development under Geno with a year in our weight room, playing against some of the best interior players in the country day after day in practice and working with Chris Daily and you don't think she's capable of being a beast in the interior??? No way she isn't the starter this year.
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A minor problem with this analysis is that Morgan recently declared in an interview that "everyone [on the team] has gotten better" over the summer and Gabby was very much the most improved...

See Sluconn Husky's post here (second in the thread) for the full quote. A link to the article is in the OP.
 
rs2905 said:
We've had a lot of discussion about Collier over the last day because of you guys. We all came away wondering what makes you all so sure she's the real deal and more ready to contribute from day 1? We aren't bashing you. Legit question.
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Watch the two US games in this video from the 3-on-3 competition at the Youth Olympic Games last summer. What a younger Napheesa shows here is unflagging energy in pursuit of the ball, a good move to the basket, willingness to mix it up inside, scoring ability, and decent rebounding. Her performance for the other USA basketball teams in the past year was similar. She fills up the stat sheet in many ways and I can't wait to see how she implements what Geno & CD will be teaching her.
 
rs2905 said:
We've had a lot of discussion about Collier over the last day because of you guys. We all came away wondering what makes you all so sure she's the real deal and more ready to contribute from day 1? We aren't bashing you. Legit question.
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The eye test, seeing her play would be the best evidence. All I can tell you is I have watched her several times at Incarnate Word, numerous times in AAU ball, with the U-18, U-19, and 3x3 teams, and in two all-star games. It took me until about the fifth time seeing her to think she is probably the best player in the class, and I have seen nearly all the other top-20 players multiple times.

In short, she's incredibly cerebral, great basketball IQ. She has tremendous hands and footwork and is a fabulous athlete (amateur boxer, high school track star). An amazing motor that will remind you of Swin Cash except I think Collier has more offensive ability than Swin. She also has great touch on her jumpers.

Here are links to two posts of mine about her that include still working AAU games she starred in.

http://the-boneyard.com/threads/napheesa-collier-thread-new-video.42825/page-5

http://the-boneyard.com/threads/napheesa-collier-wins-everything.62282/
 
rs2905 said:
We've had a lot of discussion about Collier over the last day because of you guys. We all came away wondering what makes you all so sure she's the real deal and more ready to contribute from day 1? We aren't bashing you. Legit question.
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I'm not sure any of us really know but many of us hope. I definitely don't think it all of us either. When I watch Collier play she seems to make the right play all the time. There is no wasted motion or hesitation in her movement whether she is shooting dribbling or defending. There is incredible grace fluidity & control to her game that surely must be God given because it cannot be gained from drilling. If she did not play basketball surely ballet would be her next most logical showcase of her athleticism. Collier’s reflexes (not speed) is what separates her from every other player on the floor. She reacts to the ball faster than anyone I have seen since Dennis Rodman. When other defenders are getting ready to react to the ball Collier has already maneuvered into a better position, has the ball in her hands, and is already going back up for a put back. Someone else already remark about Collier's build-long arms and " basketball" build and she has a motor (endurance) similar maybe even better than Bria Hartley-never seeming to get tired.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
In short, she's incredibly cerebral, great basketball IQ. She has tremendous hands and footwork and is a fabulous athlete (amateur boxer, high school track star). An amazing motor that will remind you of Swin Cash except I think Collier has more offensive ability than Swin. She also has great touch on her jumpers.
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Hmmmm... Maybe Collier will be the badass!
 
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j66kicker said:
Hmmmm... Maybe Collier will be the badass!
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badasses are very volatile, by definition. They gain reputations with the ref community and draw phantom fouls. A badass is the antithesis of Geno's definition of what it is to be a Husky. But, then, maybe I don't understand what a badass is :oops::rolleyes:
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
badasses are very volatile, by definition. They gain reputations with the ref community and draw phantom fouls. A badass is the antithesis of Geno's definition of what it is to be a Husky. But, then, maybe I don't understand what a badass is :oops::rolleyes:
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Maybe you should box a couple rounds with Napheesa and maybe she would 'splain it to you.
 
j66kicker said:
Maybe you should box a couple rounds with Napheesa and maybe she would 'splain it to you.
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Nah. I will throw down the gauntlet and choose Natalie as my Champion! I do get your point ... Maya badassed Syracuse pretty good a while back, but I still prefer the cold blood assassin analogy to what it is that UConn greats do to those who would get dirty with them. Just like Stewie handled the surreptitious elbow to the gut in the SC game last Feb. 9.
 
rs2905 said:
We've had a lot of discussion about Collier over the last day because of you guys. We all came away wondering what makes you all so sure she's the real deal and more ready to contribute from day 1? We aren't bashing you. Legit question.
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For me her games for USA basketball remind me so much of a healthy Morgan - capable of contributing all over the floor on offense and defense. Maybe a 'quieter' game than a Stewart or KLS that sort of scream out at you, but 'who just got that offensive rebound, or defense stop, or made that nice drive, oh yeah that Collier kid - she's pretty good' kind of game. And then you look at the stats and she is either first or second on the team in three or four different stats.
Watching Lou and Collier for four years is going to be a treat! I think they will both be great.
 
CocoHusky said:
Collier’s reflexes (not speed) is what separates her from every other player on the floor. She reacts to the ball faster than anyone I have seen since Dennis Rodman. When other defenders are getting ready to react to the ball Collier has already maneuvered into a better position, has the ball in her hands, and is already going back up for a put back.
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Funny but this is my opinion of Williams. Some say her rebounding and scoring is due to her leaping ability but what I saw last season was that she simply got to rebounds quicker than others. When she got an offensive rebound she would be going back up with it before the players around her had landed from their rebounding attempt. That also applied to her quick hands that deflected passes on defense so well. It must be those fast-twitch muscles. I haven't watched Collier enough to see this but I can only hope she shares this trait.

Hmmmm... Maybe Collier will be the badass!
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I read in her bio that her father was a rugby player back in England. They are the toughest athletes I've ever known, tougher than hockey players. Collier has the pretty smiling face of a cheerleader. Hope she uses that with the refs while using that rugby DNA for her opponents. :rolleyes:
 
Sluconn Husky said:
Thanks for the preseason piece. Interesting that 4/5 pick KLS to be the 5th starter. That differs from the general sentiment around here.

Also, tell your peeps that Collier is the real deal. She's going to be terrific from day one.
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Booyah!
 
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Buzzyboy said:
I don't get this presumption that Geno has a preference for the run and gun offense. It seems to me that he's had great success with Kara Walters and Stef Dolson and didn't show any inclination for that run and gun. It's obvious that there might be opponents where he'll go with a smaller (and quicker) lineup but to suggest that he has this preference doesn't ring true to me and many others here! There's been many people here who were paranoid that UConn wasn't recruiting enough big girls and how would we manage to survive without them. Yet, there is people like yourself that seem to suggest that we should be looking for smaller, faster and more athletic people in our front court. Strange!
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BB- I wasn't talking about any presumption about what geno likes or prefers to do at all. I am just thinking that it may not be a foregone conclusion that Butler is an ordained gtd season starter and lock for 25-30+ minutes like many on the board. With the explosive talent on this team, and Morgan Tuck, as a person who can fill a Dolson like roll on the high post on the offensive end- and her ability to drain uncontested threes, I personally think Butler could easily fall into a Kiah Stokes like role. With dynamic speed, athleticism, offense & defensive talent, and perimeter shooting ability that Mo, Kia, Stewie, Morgan, Gabby and I believe Collier and KLS will give us- I don't think Butler is a a given as Steph became in her Later years. You extrapolated a lot of what I don't believe and didn't allude to from my thoughts specifically relating to Butler relating to the talents of this seasons team. Having legit bigs is a necessity and a luxury to have. I was in Philadelpia when Georgetown was beating us convincingly in the regionals. Their shorter much more athletic forwards were breaking us down and Steph was getting drawn out, beat every time and killing us. It wasn't until I think Shea suggested to sub in Lorin Dixon for Steph, that we were barely able to come out with a win. Having legit bigs is a positive. Not sure anyone can handle what we can unleash without her in the starting line up this year? Just my opinion. It will be easier to discuss after we see her play as well as the growth of everyone else! It'll be fun!!!!
 
msf22b said:
Morgan stated the other day that Gabby was the most improved player on the club.
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If that is true- that is scary- for the opposition!
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
Nah. I will throw down the gauntlet and choose Natalie as my Champion! I do get your point ... Maya badassed Syracuse pretty good a while back, but I still prefer the cold blood assassin analogy to what it is that UConn greats do to those who would get dirty with them. Just like Stewie handled the surreptitious elbow to the gut in the SC game last Feb. 9.
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In that vein DT was the baddest of all badasses. I was at the "mooing" game in Knox when she was getting beat up all night away from the ball and the refs were turning their heads. With about 5 minutes left in the second half, with UCONN up by 4, she got absolutely clothslined - with no call of course. She just got up off the floor, demanded the ball, and swished an NBA 3 to push the lead to 7. The mooing all-of-a-sudden shushed - like TOTAL quiet. That was the most badass basketball move I ever saw.
 
j66kicker said:
In that vein DT was the baddest of all badasses. I was at the "mooing" game in Knox when she was getting beat up all night away from the ball and the refs were turning their heads. With about 5 minutes left in the second half, with UCONN up by 4, she got absolutely clothslined - with no call of course. She just got up off the floor, demanded the ball, and swished an NBA 3 to push the lead to 7. The mooing all-of-a-sudden shushed - like TOTAL quiet. That was the most badass basketball move I ever saw.
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That was also the game when she slugged the basket support ("I just had to punch something orange!"). I believed she dropped 27 points on the L-Vols. Then, after the game, when asked if she had been bothered by all that "booing," she was ready. "Booing? I thought they were Mooing!"
 
Kibitzer said:
That was also the game when she slugged the basket support ("I just had to punch something orange!"). I believed she dropped 32 points on the L-Vols. Then, after the game, when asked if she had been bothered by all that "booing," she was ready. "Booing? I thought they were Mooing!"
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I was at that game too, but that "punch" game was a couple years earlier, when she was a sophomore. UCONN blew them out by 20+, but the crowd was in denial and was believing a comeback could happen until the very end. Believe the "mooing" game was her senior year. It was a much closer game and the crowd was really nasty - they genuinely hated DT by then and were really uncouth. Only sporting event I've been to where I felt a little bit at risk of ganged up on and beaten.
 
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UcMiami said:
Running is always a relative term - Geno likes his team to press the ball up court all the time in competitive games - why allow a team to completely organize its defense why you walk the ball up, when you can put pressure on them by transitioning quickly even after made baskets. And you can do that with Stef just as easily as with Tina - it is all relative - Tina is not keeping up with Moriah and Kia and Maya, and Stewart anyway. So Tina arriving 2 seconds later vs. Stef arriving 3 seconds later is not a big deal.
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An annoyed Geno, making his point about the tempo he wanted, during a timeout (from The Geno Auriemma Project, part 2):

"We grab it and we inbound it. We don't take our time. We get it, we inbound it, and we run up the floor before they get set up down there.
We don't wait, inbound, they set their defense, we walk it up, we call a play. Doesn't work that way."
 
j66kicker said:
In that vein DT was the baddest of all badasses. I was at the "mooing" game in Knox when she was getting beat up all night away from the ball and the refs were turning their heads. With about 5 minutes left in the second half, with UCONN up by 4, she got absolutely clothslined - with no call of course. She just got up off the floor, demanded the ball, and swished an NBA 3 to push the lead to 7. The mooing all-of-a-sudden shushed - like TOTAL quiet. That was the most badass basketball move I ever saw.
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That was great - lucky bastard to be there. My all time Fav DT BA was the Duke game "call me" strut passed the whatever the hell they called themselves jerk jeering section after destroying Duke on their home court.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
That was great - lucky bastard to be there. My all time Fav DT BA was the Duke game "call me" strut passed the whatever the hell they called themselves jerk jeering section after destroying Duke on their home court.
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85904b61402c886b2569c9525acaaf50.jpg
 
This is our job meyer: sitting around the evening campfire singing the oral history of our people to the young ones so that they might pass it on.
 
RockyMTblue2 said:
This is our job meyer: sitting around the evening campfire singing the oral history of our people to the young ones so that they might pass it on.
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I think on here, I am the young. :cool:
 
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