So, being wildly premature with this ...

[msf22b]

The entire team will give the entire Baylor team plenty of problems and play them even or better next year with total destruction in year 2.

 

[Icebear]

She could impact Griner with her off the ball defense as I can't see her guarding her 1-1.

Exactly.

 

[Icebear]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Buck as part of the team effort to help contain Griner. Seems to me she's done a good job in this regard the last two games.

Geno will not forget that, especially, if we are scoring well from other positions.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Why does everyone assume that freak of nature will be back next year? Couldn't she jump to the WNBA?

And why is everyone so amazed that she dunked? She is 6'8" tall and has a 7'3" wing span. My 12 year old kid has enough vertical to dunk with those dimensions. She has never seemed particularly impressive to me. She is just freakishly big.

 

[Sonny44]

What is the consensus on how tall she actually is? I've seen everything from 6'3" to 6"7".

She's exactly 6'3.8713" barefoot. Taller in Denver though.

 

[John Fryer]

Why does everyone assume that freak of nature will be back next year? Couldn't she jump to the WNBA?

And why is everyone so amazed that she dunked? She is 6'8" tall and has a 7'3" wing span. My 12 year old kid has enough vertical to dunk with those dimensions. She has never seemed particularly impressive to me. She is just freakishly big.

Care to share how you define "freak of nature"?

Why don't you tell us how you really feel?

Did you take your meds today?

John Fryer

 

[VAMike23]

What is the consensus on how tall she actually is? I've seen everything from 6'3" to 6"7".

Per Breanna herself, she is 6'4"

 

[VAMike23]

.
Will Breanna Stewart be a problem for Brittany Griner next year?
.

I think that by the end of the year -- when there is a very good chance we will meet Baylor in the FF -- the answer is yes.

Not because Breanna or anyone else in WCBB will be capable of defending Griner straight up with no help, but because Breanna has a combination of length and athleticism that will allow her to be the help, and a very effective one at that.

Breanna has such a crazy vertical and crazy quickness for one of her wingspan that she can sag off other players and still close out on them, at least the ones she's likely to guard (or in a zone). From many positions on the court, this will allow her to disrupt a fair % of entry passes to BG and to quickly be in a position to double BG or help on her, or simply occupy the middle of the lane should BG turn to the middle. (When BG is allowed to turn baseline, that jumper is nigh on impossible to stop.) Breanna's skillset would mostly be wasted if she played behind Griner. Stef and Heather are better suited for that role.

Furthermore:

I know everyone says there is nobody in WCBB who should really be trying to block or harass BG's shot because they'll just get her on the elbow. This year, I agree. However, I think that in most cases BG does not jump very high on her jumper (why bother when you're 6'8"?!?!), and that next year there will be one player in all of WCBB who--as a help defender--could keep BG honest. That player is Breanna Stewart. She is that special. I still wouldn't recommend trying to block BG's shot from straight on, because BG holds the ball way back on her jumper. This is why I stress the point of 'help defender'. Help defenders have space, and angle.

 

[Sonny44]

What is the consensus on how tall she actually is? I've seen everything from 6'3" to 6"7".

Actually I'd be more concerned about her weight. She may need to bulk up a little to be that outrageously dominating at the college level.

 

[DobbsRover2]

I think that by the end of the year -- when there is a very good chance we will meet Baylor in the FF -- the answer is yes.

Not because Breanna or anyone else in WCBB will be capable of defending Griner straight up with no help, but because Breanna has a combination of length and athleticism that will allow her to be the help, and a very effective one at that.

Breanna has such a crazy vertical and crazy quickness for one of her wingspan that she can sag off other players and still close out on them, at least the ones she's likely to guard (or in a zone). From many positions on the court, this will allow her to disrupt a fair % of entry passes to BG and to quickly be in a position to double BG or help on her, or simply occupy the middle of the lane should BG turn to the middle. (When BG is allowed to turn baseline, that jumper is nigh on impossible to stop.) Breanna's skillset would mostly be wasted if she played behind Griner. Stef and Heather are better suited for that role.

Furthermore:

I know everyone says there is nobody in WCBB who should really be trying to block or harass BG's shot because they'll just get her on the elbow. This year, I agree. However, I think that in most cases BG does not jump very high on her jumper (why bother when you're 6'8"?!?!), and that next year there will be one player in all of WCBB who--as a help defender--could keep BG honest. That player is Breanna Stewart. She is that special. I still wouldn't recommend trying to block BG's shot from straight on, because BG holds the ball way back on her jumper. This is why I stress the point of 'help defender'. Help defenders have space, and angle.

All good points, and likely that is how it will play out. When Brittney faced Tina in 2010, BG was basically alone in the post for a one-on-one matchup that she could not win. Breanna will not be in that position.

Another factor in the matchup will be Stewart's extreme quickness and speed, combined with her wingspan. She has the potential to draw fouls on layups in a situation the Griner doesn't face that often because most of the big post players she goes up against do not have that quickness and are much easier to block.

 

[HGN]

Quick answer is NO......... Good Freshman, against a great, mature, talented, and experienced senior...However , I do think Stewart will provide a good outside shooting weapon at the high post for UConn to use to bring Griner out of the paint, so that our cutters and slashers can operate. Griner will have to stay in the paint and protect the basket and for rebounds , or come out and guard a Stewart. If Stewart is hitting , Griner will have to make a choice. Either choice may be bad for Baylor.

If Baylor or ND don't win NC this year, their chances greatly diminish next year because UConn seems poised to make another long run.