Recruiting Needs for 2013

[speedoo]

I had the years reversed. Oooops.

Doesn't matter, you made your point. The numbers don't support the assertion that she is playing at a much higher level.

 

[doggydaddy]

Doesn't matter, you made your point. The numbers don't support the assertion that she is playing at a much higher level.

Losing Cain, Brewer, Bjorklund from last years team, the downward progression of Stricklen and Simmons, the late return of an out of condition Williams, all big factors on this years edition of the Lady Vols. Even the addition of Massingale and the return to close to 100% of Baugh can't improve the team enough to even match last years results.

 

[meyers7]

2003-2004-None

*I mean recruits who actually came to UConn and played as freshmen.

Wasn't that the year we had Sherwood, Wright and Robinson?

I think Sherwood played that year, then transfered.

 

[easttexastrash]

Unless Griner is independently wealthy, I think there is a good chance that she will jump to the WNBA if Baylor wins the NC this year. If Baylor does not win the NC this year, I think Griner will still jump to the WNBA.

If Baylor wins the NC this year, what incentive does Griner have to stick around? What more is there to accomplish that is worth giving up the big bucks?

If they don't win it all this year, the chance of winning it all next year will be even less because of Uconn's improvement. Will she want to risk the very real chance of being eliminated again thereby suffering the heartbreak of no NCs? Let's face it, no matter how good a team is, winning a NC is very difficult. There's always the possibility of some team getting lucky and hitting everything they throw up. We at Uconn think it is easy to go undefeated for a consecutive year or two. Other teams probably don't think so. With the risks of playing another year in college, can anyone blame her if she jumps? The only way I see her remaining at Baylor is if the Olympic team doesn't get the gold.

Griner has stated that she hasn't even given turning pro any thought. Griner is very much under the influence of her father, and the chances of her turning pro are very minimal.

Why would winning an Olympic gold medal influence her decision to skip a year of college? I am not saying that it won't, I just don't understand the reasoning. This seems like an extreme amount of speculation, especially the part about Griner not wanting to risk the "heartbreak" of coming back for her senior season because she virtually has no chance at an NC is laughable.

 

[easttexastrash]

I agree that Griner may become the best post player ever. Stewart will probably play a power forward/wing position and probably play alongside a center. She'll probably not be matched up against Griner though her 7'1" wingspan makes such a matchup intriguing.

With that wingspan, how can Geno not have her guard Griner? That would be like putting Griner on the opposing 4 player.

This should be a great game next year. I am looking forward to seeing Stewart play.

 

[EricSD]

to be fair, Roy, in 2003-2004, both Sherwood and Robinson lasted the year. Wright transferred to SJU right away and Liz and Kiana transferred after we won the NC that year. and also to be fair...

Bestiarious said "If they don't win it all this year, the chance of winning it all next year will be even less because of Uconn's improvement." and he's exactly right. i don't care who is coming back or who Baylor lands. top 20 Fields and 2 other top 50 kids along with Washington and Chandler coming back are nowhere close to Stewart, Tuck, and Jefferson.

you can argue all you want, and i get you are a Baylor fan, but i doubt you'd find even any non-UCONN fans except them maybe who would agree with you. and it's no slight. most of us feel that the 2 best teams next year will be UCONN and Baylor anyway, with a big drop off to #3...

 

[doggydaddy]

With that wingspan, how can Geno not have her guard Griner? That would be like putting Griner on the opposing 4 player.

This should be a great game next year. I am looking forward to seeing Stewart play.

Don't get too excited. I think her wingspan is only 6'10".

 

[alexrgct]

With that wingspan, how can Geno not have her guard Griner? That would be like putting Griner on the opposing 4 player.

This should be a great game next year. I am looking forward to seeing Stewart play.

Need someone stronger in the lower body as the primary defender, methinks. I think Bre's wingspan will be most valuable in a help capacity against a senior of BG's caliber.

The question of a WCBB player leaving early to go pro is an interesting one. Nothing stopping them from doing so, but most lack the financial incentive to make it an attractive option. Additionally, because the top players play year-round, they can't take classes during the offseason and finish up; there is no offseason, really.

CFB players who receive a high draft grade and elect to go back to school anyway can purchase insurance against career-ending injury. I wonder if Griner could even do that. Can anyone calculate with any accuracy what her earning potential acutally is? All academic in ny case- I agree she'll be back at Baylor next year.

 

[speedoo]

Losing Cain, Brewer, Bjorklund from last years team, the downward progression of Stricklen and Simmons, the late return of an out of condition Williams, all big factors on this years addition of the Lady Vols. Even the addition of Massingale and the return to close to 100% of Baugh can't improve the team enough to even match last years results.

Plus they lost Avant, who, IMO showed as much promise in a couple of games last year as Massengale has shown this year. So I consider that a wash.

 

[EricSD]

Plus they lost Avant, who, IMO showed as much promise in a couple of games last year as Massengale has shown this year. So I consider that a wash.

was Avant injured last year? cuz she played in only 19 games and averaged under 3 PPG in about 8 minutes per game. not exactly anything to write home about. i never saw her play so i can't speak to any promise, or lack therof, in her game, but i don't recall tennessee fans being particularly bent about her leaving, except for how it may have reflected negatively on the program in general and Pat specifically....

 

[RoyDodger]

to be fair, Roy, in 2003-2004, both Sherwood and Robinson lasted the year. Wright transferred to SJU right away and Liz and Kiana transferred after we won the NC that year. and also to be fair...

Bestiarious said "If they don't win it all this year, the chance of winning it all next year will be even less because of Uconn's improvement." and he's exactly right. i don't care who is coming back or who Baylor lands. top 20 Fields and 2 other top 50 kids along with Washington and Chandler coming back are nowhere close to Stewart, Tuck, and Jefferson.

you can argue all you want, and i get you are a Baylor fan, but i doubt you'd find even any non-UCONN fans except them maybe who would agree with you. and it's no slight. most of us feel that the 2 best teams next year will be UCONN and Baylor anyway, with a big drop off to #3...

Since 2003-2204 is the year my wife and I started watching the Huskies and we weren't quite up on all the details at that time, I was going by the 2003-2004 roster on the UConn Huskies official website. Kiana Robinson and Liz Sherwood are not listed. However, I do see from the Team Preview for that year that Robinson and Sherwood were listed as "newcomers" and that the team stats for that year shows that they certainly did play.

 

[Icebear]

Don't get too excited. I think her wingspan is only 6'10".

DD, I believe 6'10" is an old number most of the past year a number of 7' or more has been mentioned relatively consistently.

 

[jdubct]

DD, I believe 6'10" is an old number most of the past year a number of 7' or more has been mentioned relatively consistently.

Mentioned by Geno on the CPTV Geno show. Whatever the exact wingspan, it's amazing.

 

[Icebear]

Mentioned by Geno on the CPTV Geno show. Whatever the exact wingspan, it's amazing.

Indeed.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

In addition to the 7 ft wingspan, Stewarts size 22 foot will be an obstacle for intended bounce passes to postup targets.

 

[connboy77]

It is my belief that Griner will stay at Baylor until she graduates. The money in the pro's for women is not that great, unless you play in a foreign country. I want her to stay one more year because the UCONN/Baylor game next year would be one of the best games ever.

 

[Wbbfan1]

I'm of the opinion that if Baylor wins the National Championship, Griner will turn pro since she's eligible. Between playing overseas and in the WNBA she'll earn around 500K for 6 - 8 months of work. If she's on the Olympic Team, there will be some WNBA players that will nudge her to turn pro. Then there's her father and his entourage who have been around Brittney since early high school. I have no inside information, just my uninformed opinion.

 

[doggydaddy]

It is my belief that Griner will stay at Baylor until she graduates. The money in the pro's for women is not that great, unless you play in a foreign country. I want her to stay one more year because the UCONN/Baylor game next year would be one of the best games ever.

WNBA is a summer game. Overseas basketball pays well and is played over the winter. Making $200,000-$400,000 overseas can be very alluring.

Prince did it

 

[UcMiami]

On Griner leaving early:
1. The WNBA is not an option until her class graduates or until she graduates (whichever comes earliest) so oversees would be the option for next year (same as for Prince.) While the money oversees would definitely be good, remember that about 50% of that goes in European taxes.) And the money available to women still does not represent the kind of 'set for life' money of a first year contract for a men's player.
2. The best full time personal coaching a player receives is during their college years (as long as they have a good coaching staff and I think Baylor qualifies on that front.) And I think there is a strong connection for Griner to those coaches.
3. I think Griner has 'matured' personally later that some of her age mates - I think that is reflected in her not wanting to play for USA basketball until this last year. I think she didn't want to leave her comfort zone of home/Baylor until this year, and it was a 'get your feet wet' experience. I think she will be more comfortable with another year at Baylor and a season in the WNBA before she takes the European plunge.
4. Prince was a real exception in the women's game, and I think will continue to be one - unless money becomes all important to a player, or something really bad happens at their college, women will not jump early.

 

[JS]

In addition to the 7 ft wingspan, Stewarts size 22 foot will be an obstacle for intended bounce passes to postup targets.

The downside is she'll get called for tripping fouls on folks driving the other side of the lane.

 

[Wbbfan1]

There was an article late last week that stated since both Brittney and Skylar were going to turn 22 this year, they were eligible for the WNBA draft. Brittney was born on October 18, 1990. She will be 22 in October.

From Mel Greenberg's Blog:

The other factor is both Baylor great Brittney Griner and Notre Dame sensation Skylar Diggins, because this will be the 22nd year of their birth, they have the option of leaving early, according to the WNBA collective bargaining agreement.

Blog Link

 

[easttexastrash]

I think that the lure of a NC is much greater for women than it is for men. Griner has a tremendous relationship with Mulkey and wants to bring home a championship for her and Baylor, possibly more than for herself. Who knows, it may never happen. As someone mentioned earlier, you never know when a team is going to get red hot and make every shot they throw up and end your season. And UCONN is going to be a tremendous team next year. Beating the Huskies next year will be an incredible feat and not one that any team may be capable of. The only team that will stand a chance is the team that has Griner.

EDD left UCONN knowing that she would never win a NC, yet she still chose to play the game. Her motivations were very different but I also suspect that she will play out her eligibility before turning pro.

Look at Luck, Barkley and Jones in NCAA football. All three QBs chose to come back for their senior seasons when they could have gone pro and made millions. They all enjoy the college experience and want a championship. Griner has never ended the season with a win...no state championship or NCAA championship. She wants the taste of a title.

I am not sure that you can categorize Griner's father as an entourage. He is a protective father who looks out for his daughter. It was almost described as a negative quality. BG has endured more at her age than most of us can relate to. She has been called some of the worst things that a young girl should ever have to be called, and if she were my daughter, I would likely have been equally protective.

 

[easttexastrash]

Just curious to know the opinion of UCONN fans who have seen Stewart and Jefferson play. How does Stewart compare to EDD and how does Jefferson compare to Hartley? Does anyone have any footage of Stewart? I would love to get a sneak peek at her play.

It sounds like Stewart and EDD would have played the same position and that Jefferson could come in an allow Hartley to move to the 2 spot, although it is hard to envision anyone playing PG other than Hartley until she graduates.

 

[doggydaddy]

Just curious to know the opinion of UCONN fans who have seen Stewart and Jefferson play. How does Stewart compare to EDD and how does Jefferson compare to Hartley? Does anyone have any footage of Stewart? I would love to get a sneak peek at her play.

It sounds like Stewart and EDD would have played the same position and that Jefferson could come in an allow Hartley to move to the 2 spot, although it is hard to envision anyone playing PG other than Hartley until she graduates.

Here is a Stewart Video

I haven't seen enough of either to tell you the comparison. Maybe others can take that task on. I do know that EDD is a superior shooter. And Stewart is a superior defender and rebounder.

Jefferson is quicker than Hartley. And probably anyone else in WCBB right now! Both have great 3 point shots and terrific handles. Hartley is stronger and a little bigger.

pap49cba, gods gift to us for all his linking, posted a Jefferson video. Here it is.

Starting backcourt in Jefferson's freshman year will be Doty and Hartley.

Backing them up will be the quickest backcourt in America with Jefferson and Banks.

 

[easttexastrash]

I did find some footage of the Stewart's "dunk," which was no dunk at all. She does seem to be pretty slight of frame so I can see the point of the other poster's note that she would probably not match up with Griner until she can put on some lower body strength.

In the other footage that I saw, I didn't see her make a shot other than shots within about 5 feet of the basket, and she actually missed quite a few of those.

I'm not sold yet as I saw Griner play in high school and she was much more impressive. I am not sure that Stewart has the foot speed to play the 4 in college. I have not doubt that she will have an impact with her length, and she will undoubtedly develop under Geno's system. But comparing footage of EDD and Stewart coming out of high school, EDD was a much more developed player. I think that Stewart will be about two years from making a major impact, but she will certainly impact the game.

Stewart does appear to have a sweet stroke from three-point range. Surprisingly, Griner also has a pretty sweet stroke from 3 range, although nobody gets to see it unless you watch Baylor in warm-ups. I've watched her shoot in warm-ups and the percentage that she makes is pretty impressive. But like Griner, I am not sure that you want a player of that height and length standing around the three point line.

 

[pap49cba]

Someone posted a Jefferson video.

Is that all I am to you???

 

[doggydaddy]

I think that the lure of a NC is much greater for women than it is for men. Griner has a tremendous relationship with Mulkey and wants to bring home a championship for her and Baylor, possibly more than for herself. Who knows, it may never happen. As someone mentioned earlier, you never know when a team is going to get red hot and make every shot they throw up and end your season. And UCONN is going to be a tremendous team next year. Beating the Huskies next year will be an incredible feat and not one that any team may be capable of. The only team that will stand a chance is the team that has Griner.

I agree....lol.

EDD left UCONN knowing that she would never win a NC, yet she still chose to play the game. Her motivations were very different but I also suspect that she will play out her eligibility before turning pro.

I agree. Just to stay one more year close to her sister.


Look at Luck, Barkley and Jones in NCAA football. All three QBs chose to come back for their senior seasons when they could have gone pro and made millions. They all enjoy the college experience and want a championship. Griner has never ended the season with a win...no state championship or NCAA championship. She wants the taste of a title.

I see your point. But for every Luck, Barkley and Jones, there are many many more that are leaving for the NFL before their eligibility is up. In fact, a record was set for how many are coming out early this year.

 

[easttexastrash]

I think that the biggest impact player next year will be Jefferson. Imagine giving Hartley a spell by bringing in the top point guard in her class. Geno knows how to develop a point guard! Baylor is bringing in a good PG, but it will be hard for her to get any playing time with Sims proving that she can go 40 minutes a game. But the freshman PG will certainly not be on the level of Jefferson.

 

[doggydaddy]

Is that all I am to you???

pap, I have edited my post. Mea Culpa.

 

[easttexastrash]

I think the biggest factor is the one that someone previously mentioned. Griner loves the feel of protection that her teammates and coaching staff provide. She also loves the college experience, attending almost every sporting event that takes place on campus. I would bet my house on Griner staying in school.