Rank those on the Wall

[cbraarj]

Breanna won four titles, while D won only three. Her freshman year D was surrounded by all-world talent. Breanna was never surrounded by all -world talent. Solid yes, but nowhere near the talent level when D was a freshman.l

With 2 first team AAs out with injuries before the tournament!

 

[VAMike23]

Stewie played with AAs her first 2 years! It was just Maya her Sr. year!

thank you ! lets try putting a SR Jefferson and SR Tuck on the team with SR Maya and see how that works. Also, Maya’s first year squad was not as developed as the cast that surrounded Stewie in her freshman year , as you point out

 

[SVCBeercats]

Stewie played with AAs her first 2 years! It was just Maya her Sr. year!

Both Dolson and Hartley had zero chance of being AAs without Stewie. Like the rising tide, she elevated them. Without Stewie thet would have remained in the shallows and no AAs. Like I said she carried the team.

 

[Sonny44]

DT belongs on the top for carrying the team to titles in her junior and senior years

But Stewie did it every year.

 

[CocoHusky]

Both Dolson and Hartley had zero chance of being AAs without Stewie. Like the rising tide, she elevated them. Without Stewie thet would have remained in the shallows and no AAs. Like I said she carried the team.

That's not correct. Bria was an AA before Stewie arrived having been named 2011-12 WBCA/State Farm All-American. Both Players were on the watchlist for both the Wade and Naismith trophies before Stewie arrived based on successful sophomore seasons. KML of course was also well on her way to being an AA when Stewie arrived.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Clarification question: Is this solely based on NCAA/UCONN career?

Excellent point. Based on post-UConn careers, Sue moves up, and Tina probably does. Moriah and Kaleena move down.

Edit: Sue is widely regarded as the best female PG of all time. She holds the WNBA career record for assists by a fairly wide margin. In addition, she is the most decorated player, male or female, in USA Basketball history. (Stewie is on pace to pass her and Maya is close.)

 

[MilfordHusky]

Based on both high-level accomplishments and consistency, I like the ONLY 3-time Wade Award winner, ONLY 4-time top-2 in AP voting, and ONLY player about whom Geno said this:

“Maya is the only freshman who came here, ‘Got this.’ She came here as a college player. You didn’t have to tell her anything. She already worked harder than any college kid in America. She had talent. She was tough. She was competitive. First day of practice, you knew: best player in the country. She hadn’t even practiced yet. That is why she is Maya. That is why there is only one Maya.”

 

[VAMike23]

Both Dolson and Hartley had zero chance of being AAs without Stewie. Like the rising tide, she elevated them. Without Stewie thet would have remained in the shallows and no AAs. Like I said she carried the team.

Balderdash.

 

[MilfordHusky]

If we look at individual accomplishments, here are our 3x All-Americans:

Sveta
Diana
Maya (4x)
Stewie
Lou

In terms of career points, Maya, Stewie, Pheesa, Tina, Lou.

In terms of career rebounds, Tina, Maya, Rebecca, Pheesa, Stewie.

Tina and Pheesa are very high up in both. Maya is obviously.

In terms of career assists, Moriah, Diana, Jen, Renee, Sue. Note that Sue missed 26 or so games her first year, or she would be 1st. Crystal may pass Moriah this year.

Maya is the only player in the top 10 in all 3 categories: 1st, 2nd, 8th. She's also 4th in steals and 8th in blocks. She has the NCAA record of 150 double-digit scoring games. She's also 3rd in NCAA history in games played and 2nd (I believe) in games won.

 

[Biff]

Balderdash.

Surprised that got through the filter!

 

[Bigboote]

Are you saying you don’t have a favorite child

I absolutely have a favorite child. (But I only have one child.)

 

[Waquoit]

Shea is way too low on the OP's list. People forget how she was a phenomenon. The Whalers were jealous of her.

 

[CocoHusky]

There was a similar ranking of he WoH a few years back before Morgan, Gabby, Napheesa, CD and KLS made it on the wall. This one was position based with some creative licenses for example Maya played PF but was ranked as SF so as not to compete with Stewie.
My revised position ranking would look like this. BTW this was based on UCONN career only.

 

[Waquoit]

That's good work, Coco. I'd trade Bird and Riz, though.

 

[CocoHusky]

That's good work, Coco. I'd trade Bird and Riz, though.

Thanks. Glad you mention that, Jen was National POY as was Wolters that goes along way in my book.

 

[MSSportsGuy]

Thanks. Glad you mention that, Jen was National POY as was Wolters that goes along way in my book.

I believe Bird won the Wade Trophy and Naismith awards in 2002. I too would have Bird ahead of Rizzotti.

 

[CocoHusky]

That's good work, Coco. I'd trade Bird and Riz, though.

I believe Bird won the Wade Trophy and Naismith awards in 2002. I too would have Bird ahead of Rizzotti.

You have convinced me.

 

[MooreMayaNY]

Both Dolson and Hartley had zero chance of being AAs without Stewie. Like the rising tide, she elevated them. Without Stewie thet would have remained in the shallows and no AAs. Like I said she carried the team.

INCORRECT. Hartley went AA her sophomore year and Stewie wasn’t even on the team yet. Dolson wasn’t nearly the player she became her last two years. Stewie had a great starting 5 AND a bench that at times included Tuck, Gabby, Stokes, Chong, Lou & Pheesa as well. Four players out that list made it to the wall!

 

[meyers7]

The recent discussion about UCONN WBB Mt Rushmore got me thinking about ranking those currently on the Wall of Honor. Lets debate! Here's my ranking (hope I didn't miss any):

1. Diana
2. Stewie
3. Maya
4. Sue
5. Lobo
6. Bascom
7. Tina
8. Swin
9. Nykesha
10. Jefferson
11. KML
12. Big Girl
13. Svet
14. Rizzotti
15. Gabby
16. Montgomery
17. Dolson
18. Bria
19. Shea
20. Tuck

I did a BY poll a couple years ago. Position poll, then an overall poll.

Overall ended up

1. Stewart
2. DT
3. Moore
4. Bird
5. Charles
6. Lobo
7. Jefferson
8. Rizzotti
9. Sales
10. Abrosimova

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Breanna won four titles, while D won only three. Her freshman year D was surrounded by all-world talent. Breanna was never surrounded by all -world talent. Solid yes, but nowhere near the talent level when D was a freshman.l

I made the following post on August 6, 2018, but I thought it was substantively relevant to this discussion, so I am re-posting it below (with a few edits and additional comments).

One thing to consider -- or at least what I consider -- when discussing who the GOAT is or in the GOAT evaluation process - is what Taurasi did during 2003 and 2004.

Stewart never played a full season without Moriah Jefferson or Morgan Tuck (though Tuck missed a good chunk of one season). Stewart also had KML (#1 HS player; #3 WNBA draft pick) for three years, plus Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley (2014 WNBA Draft #6 and #7; Hartley was a top ten player) for two years.

Moore won both of her college titles with Tina Charles anchoring the paint. When Charles graduated, UConn lost in the 2011 semis to Notre Dame.

Taurasi won her first NCAA title with TASS - Tamika Williams, Asjha Jones, Swin Cash, and Sue Bird - all of whom were taken among the top six players in the WNBA draft (three of whom have gold medals at both the World Championships and the Olympics). When that class graduated, Taurasi led a group of freshmen (specifically, Turner, Crockett, and Strother) to the 2003 title. And after the top players in the 2003 high school class went elsewhere, Taurasi still led the team to the 2004 title.

Put it this way, Taurasi had Maria Conlon starting in the backcourt next to her, plus major minutes being played by Morgan Valley and Ashley Valley, who were not in the same conversation as the teammates that Stewart had (no disrespect intended to Conlon or the Valley sisters, as they were very hard workers who maximized their potential under Geno Auriemma but who were not nearly as naturally gifted, talented, or athletic as many of the teammates of Breanna Stewart).

So here are the questions I always seem to be asking as part of this debate (and I understand the players involved -- Taurasi, Stewart, and Moore -- played different positions, which makes it a bit challenging to assess):

-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Maya Moore on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 teams (instead of Diana Taurasi), would UConn have won the national titles?
-- If you put Breanna Stewart on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?
-- If you put Diana Taurasi on the 2010-11 team (instead of Maya Moore), would UConn have won the national title?

@ucbart , @EricLA , @CocoHusky

 

[CocoHusky]

Put it this way, Taurasi had Maria Conlon starting in the backcourt next to her, plus major minutes being played by Morgan Valley and Ashley Valley, who were not in the same conversation as the teammates that Stewart had (no disrespect intended to Conlon or the Valley sisters, as they were very hard workers who maximized their potential under Geno Auriemma but who were not nearly as naturally gifted, talented, or athletic as many of the teammates of Breanna Stewart).

To solidify your point regarding DT and lack of quality teammates in the run to 2003 and 2004 championships:
Breanna Stewart had three teammates (Kelly Faris, Kia Nurse & Kia Stokes) not on the Wall of Honor & not previously mentioned here that would have been arguably the 2nd best player on either the '03 & '04 UCONN teams featuring Turner, Conlon, and Strother.
Likewise Maya also played with Doty, Hayes, and Greene.
Stewie had the most help in winning her 4 championships including 8 teammates from the WoH +Faris, Stokes & Nurse. DT had the least help especially in those last two championships which is what makes DT the goat IMO.

 

[Zorro]

Comparisons are odious!

 

[JonathanXIV]

In a recent post, it was suggested that not every player on UConn's Wall of Honor deserves to be there. The exact quote was "I wish the criteria for WOH was a 5-person AA team, not the wussy 10-player WBCA team. WOH is overpopulated with players who weren't 'real' first-team AA's and didn't lead their teams to NCs." This got me thinking, who should be removed from the WOH? How do we reduce this "overpopulation?

Let's go through the names on the Wall and see if we can tackle this overpopulation, making what, according to at least one commentator, are some badly needed edits and corrections.

Kerry Bascom - Never won a national championship. Lost in only Final Four appearance. Scoring record eclipsed by a number of Huskies, including a player with a crutch. Besides how many Boneyarders saw her play? She's off the wall.

Nykesha Sales - Only one National Championship. Scoring record eclipsed by other Huskies (and needed some help from Villanova to do it). Only an All American twice. She can be removed from the Wall.

Svetlana Abrosimova - Only one National Championship. Big East player of the year only once. Pretended not to understand English when asked to play defense. Should be removed from the Wall.

Shea Ralph - Only one National Championship. All American only once. Only averaged 13.1 points/game. Injury prone. Doesn't belong on the Wall.

Swin Cash - All American only once. Averaged less than 12 points/game. Not even the best player in her graduating class. Off the Wall.

Renee Montgomery - Averaged 13.3 points/game. Won Frances Pomeroy Award for Best Player Under 5'8" (Is this even a thing?), effectively eliminating over half of the competition from consideration. Wouldn't have won any National Championships without Maya. Shouldn't be on the Wall.

Stefanie Dolson - Averaged 13.6 points/game in her best season. Never won national player of the year. Was not a very good jumper. Should be removed from the Wall.

Bria Hartley - Never won national player of the year. Averaged 13.0 points a game for her career. Assist/turnover ration of less than 2-1. Doesn't belong on the Wall.

Kaleen Mosqueda-Lewis - Made less than 400 3pt shots, with a percentage of under 45%. Career record for 3pt shots already surpassed. Should be off the Wall.

Morgan Tuck - Less than 1300 career points. Averaged 11.3 points/game. Not the best player in her graduating class. Definitely not Wall material.

Gabby Williams - Averaged 10.6 points/game for her career. Did not win National Championship her final two seasons. Only made 1 3pt shot in her career. Remove her from the Wall.

Kara Wolters - Only 130 assists in for her career. Won a single National Championship. Less than 1000 career rebounds. Should be removed from the Wall.

Jennifer Rizzotti - Averaged 11.1 points for her career. Assist/turnover ration of less than 2-1. One measly National Championship and one measly player of the year award. Wore knee pads. Not Wall material.

Tina Charles - Less than 200 career assists. Lost 6 games during her career. Only All American twice. Wonder how she got on the Wall in the first place, time to go.

Rebecca Lobo - More turnovers than assists. Only All American twice, and only one National Championship. Spends a lot of time with Tennessee grad Kara Lawson. Besides, isn't the Basketball Hall of Fame enough? Take her down from the Wall.

Sue Bird - Career scoring average of 11.7 points/game. All American just once. Never won consecutive National Championships. How she got on the Wall I'll never know. Down.

Moriah Jefferson - Averaged less than 10 points a game for her career. Less than 25 career blocked shots. According to her coach, looked like an eighth grader. Remove her from the Wall.

Maya Moore - Only was national player of the year three times. Lost 4 career games. Did not average 20 points a game for her career. Did not win National Championship as a senior. Place on Wall indicative of "everyone gets a trophy" mentality. Time for her to come down.

Diana Taurasi - Only averaged 15.0 points/game for her career, with assist/turnover ratio of less than 2-1. Won national player of the year just twice. Played poorly in Final Four as a freshman. Not. Wall. Material. Take her number down.

Breanna Stewart - Not UConn's all-time leading scorer. Made less than 36% of her 3pt shots. Played only 12 minutes against Baylor as a freshman. Only two undefeated seasons. In the words of Reagan, "tear down [Breanna's number from] this wall."

Chris Dailey - Seriously? She's never been a head coach. And even though her job is to keep Geno from getting technicals, he still manages to get them. Doesn't belong on Wall at all.

Geno Auriemma - Probably biggest mystery of them all. Can't recruit. Can't win overtime games. Hasn't won a National Championship in two years. Lost two straight games sometime in the 90's. Take him down from the Wall to avoid the embarrassment to both him and the program.

This exercise has been clarifying. Now that it's been pointed out that UConn's Wall of Honor is overpopulated, this review has revealed to me just how overpopulated it is. Bluntly, there is not a deserving name on the Wall. Hopefully this egregious oversight will be corrected immediately and by the time UConn has it's next home game all the numbers on the Wall will be removed and replaced with a banner that says "This space reserved for a deserving players and coaches. (If that day ever comes.)"

The definitive analysis. None of the players belong on the wall.

 

[BostonBay]

Jefferson is being very undervalued here. UCONN doesnt win 4 in a row without her. She was just as important as Stewie. Best PG in our history.

 

[CocoHusky]

Jefferson is being very undervalued here. UCONN doesnt win 4 in a row without her. She was just as important as Stewie. Best PG in our history.

It's definitely close. Sue Bird has 3 Liberman Awards compared to Moriah's 2. Jen and Sue were National Player of the year. Moriah has a National Defensive Player of the year trophy in her cabinet. I'd question Moriah contribution to those first two Championships. During the first championship she was the last guard (5th) in the rotation until until Banks got hurt.

 

[Dokey]

The Taurasi legend grows with each passing year. Stewie arrived as a freshman, promised and delivered four NCs. It might not be a fair comparison, as they played at different times against different teams. Fresher memories show them as pros. I suspect Stewie will get better and better. But, come on, this is hardly Sophie’s choice.

 

[Dokey]

Jefferson is being very undervalued here. UCONN doesnt win 4 in a row without her. She was just as important as Stewie. Best PG in our history.

I recall that when Stewie was named NC MVP for last time, she said it should have gone to Jefferson. And she was right.

 

[meyers7]

Jefferson is being very undervalued here. UCONN doesnt win 4 in a row without her. She was just as important as Stewie. Best PG in our history.

It's definitely close. Sue Bird has 3 Liberman Awards compared to Moriah's 2. Jen and Sue were National Player of the year. Moriah has a National Defensive Player of the year trophy in her cabinet. I'd question Moriah contribution to those first two Championships. During the first championship she was the last guard (5th) in the rotation until until Banks got hurt.

It is very close with Bird and Jefferson. In fact in the Position Poll I did a couple years ago, for PG, Bird and Jefferson ended in a dead tie. So take your pick, you wouldn't be wrong with either one.

A couple notes to add. Bird would have had many more assists/points if she hadn't missed most of her FR year. Bird was probably a better leader/shooter also.

Jefferson didn't have a chance at NPOY, playing with Stewart. Also she lost the NLC awards to Diggins and Sims as SRs. And as noted, she was THE lock down defender her Jr/Sr year for UCONN.

 

[pspr11]

alphabetical according to height

 

[Bobcat]

Are we talking about the best player, or who led UConn to the most titles? Maya was the best player.