The AA table is getting crowded. Only five seats. . .

[cardfan]

Not really. when you take into account the number of shots taken and the number of minutes played. She's not quite the volume shooter a player like Simmons of Tennessee is, but my point is merely that I don't think you can say Chiney is a better or more deserving player than KML based solely on the numbers.

Side note - Chiney shoots 58% from the field in 34.5 minutes. KML is at 55% in 28.7 MPG. The thing most remarkable about KML's numbers is that more than half her shots are from beyond the arc, while Chiney's are literally within a few feet of the basket.

I think both are 1st team AA's and Chiney is the best player in her class, as KML is the best in hers.

Her shots are not lay-ups or close range, she has people hanging all over her and makes some incredible moves.

 

[CCinCT]

EDD is shooting 50/50/91, and that includes some early-season games where her percentage was lower because she was playing through Lymes. Since mid-January she is above 50% on 3-pointers. It is hard to make the case that she is not the best pure shooter, or at least tied for the best.

EDD chose to be a big fish in a small pond and she has succeeded.

 

[pksundevil]

EDD chose to be a big fish in a small pond and she has succeeded.

And she was the leading scorer on the last national team she was on, so let's just all admit she's being judged here based on her school, instead of actual ability. I missed the All-American criteria that indicated mid-major players weren't eligible. My apologies.

 

[UConnCat]

And she was the leading scorer on the last national team she was on, so let's just all admit she's being judged here based on her school, instead of actual ability. I missed the All-American criteria that indicated mid-major players weren't eligible. My apologies.

No one here said that mid-majors weren't eligible. There are 2 players whose games are being compared and one plays on a bigger stage and against tougher competition than the other. Some here happen to think that's a factor to consider and I'm one of them. Who cares what she did in the World University games. That's not relevant to a discussion about AA status in college.

 

[Vowelguy]

And she was the leading scorer on the last national team she was on, so let's just all admit she's being judged here based on her school, instead of actual ability. I missed the All-American criteria that indicated mid-major players weren't eligible. My apologies.

Of course circumstances matter. Had Lincoln not been prez during the Civil War he probably wouldn't be considered (one of) the greatest of all time. Ie, without crisis, he wouldn't have been able to prove his brilliance.

EDD's 20 pts/game against non-tourney competition is nice, but I'd think she should be getting 30. Consider what Jackie Stiles accomplished.

 

[alexrgct]

EDD does not belong on the first team over KML. It's not her fault she's been ill, but she has not played a single quality opponent all season other than Maryland (her first game back, so unfortunately she turned in a mediocre shooting performance).

KML has been stellar against top flight competition. Her scoring efficiency is off the charts, but 15 rebounds against a team that has a 6-8" player? That is ridiculous.

My AP AA team is Griner, KML, Chiney, Sims, and Diggins. It sucks to leave EDD off, but the other five are more deserving this year.

 

[alexrgct]

Some random KML facts:

-If she finishes the season on her current scoring pace, the only UConn players who will have scored more points in a season will be Kerry Bascom, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, and Kara Wolters.
-She has a real shot of breaking Wendy Davis's UConn mark of 107 three-pointers in a season.
-Her FT percentage, if it holds, will be good for third all time (behind only Amy Duran and Sue Bird).
-She is on pace to have the second highest career scoring total ever for a UConn player. By season's end, she will have already cracked the top 30.
-She has the second most points ever by a freshman at UConn (Moore), and will likely end up #3 ever by a sophomore (Moore, Bascom).
-With her next three-pointer, she will already be in sole possession of eighth place all time at UConn in terms of three-point baskets made. By season's end, she will likely be in sole possession of sixth place. By the end of her JUNIOR campaign, she might already be #1. All that with the arc further away from the basket than previously.

When you think about what kinds of players have come through UConn, the mark she's making is really impressive. I think that when all is said and done, she will make my all-time UConn starting five (along with Sue, D, Maya, and Tina). And it starts with an AP AA slot this season. Or it least it should.

 

[UConnCat]

I'm concerned about the lack of buzz around KML this year. I'm glad Kara Lawson pointed this out. And that's why I mentioned (critically) the ESPN "3 to See" campaign.

 

[Vowelguy]

Some random KML facts:

-If she finishes the season on her current scoring pace, the only UConn players who will have scored more points in a season will be Kerry Bascom, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, and Kara Wolters.
-She has a real shot of breaking Wendy Davis's UConn mark of 107 three-pointers in a season.
-Her FT percentage, if it holds, will be good for third all time (behind only Amy Duran and Sue Bird).
-She is on pace to have the second highest career scoring total ever for a UConn player. By season's end, she will have already cracked the top 30.
-She has the second most points ever by a freshman at UConn (Moore), and will likely end up #3 ever by a sophomore (Moore, Bascom).
-With her next three-pointer, she will already be in sole possession of eighth place all time at UConn in terms of three-point baskets made. By season's end, she will likely be in sole possession of sixth place. By the end of her JUNIOR campaign, she might already be #1. All that with the arc further away from the basket than previously.

When you think about what kinds of players have come through UConn, the mark she's making is really impressive. I think that when all is said and done, she will make my all-time UConn starting five (along with Sue, D, Maya, and Tina). And it starts with an AP AA slot this season. Or it least it should.

All nice, but for me - and probably the voters - it's the eye-popping things. Namely, the exceptionally quick release she has, her phenomonal accuracy, and her rebounding.

 

[JRRRJ]

Here's what Kara Lawson had to say about KML:

“But I will tell you something; I think what Mosqueda-Lewis is doing, and how efficiently she is doing it, the rate she is shooting the basketball … I’m not going to say I’ve never seen it before, because I’m sure we can research some other numbers, but just look at how many three-pointers she has made.

“Are you kidding me? Shooting over 50 percent from the field, too. That kid is not getting enough whatever [praise]. I’ve never seen anything like it. There are great shooters out there, but they don’t shoot like she does. Whoa.”

As far as research goes, the latest copy I have of the NCAA WBB record book (2008) says there's a passel of Division I players who have shot more than 51% from three since 1988. The leader shot 81 of 148 for 54.7%. A name we remember from 2001 -- Alicia Ratay of ND. She also holds the career record at 47.6%.

 

[UConnCat]

I just listened to Michelle Smith and Mechelle Voepel discuss their post season award winner, including AAs. No KML. Both chose Diggins, Griner, Sims and Chiney. Smith chose Alyssa Thomas which is remarkable. Voepel chose EDD which is at least defensible.

Alyssa Thomas should not be an AA over KML.

 

[speedoo]

I just listened to Michelle Smith and Mechelle Voepel discuss their post season award winner, including AAs. No KML. Both chose Diggins, Griner, Sims and Chiney. Smith chose Alyssa Thomas which is remarkable. Voepel chose EDD which is at least defensible.

Alyssa Thomas should not be an AA over KML.

Smith has always impressed me as stupid.

 

[Vowelguy]

I just listened to Michelle Smith and Mechelle Voepel discuss their post season award winner, including AAs. No KML. Both chose Diggins, Griner, Sims and Chiney. Smith chose Alyssa Thomas which is remarkable. Voepel chose EDD which is at least defensible.

Alyssa Thomas should not be an AA over KML.

Thomas was 1st team last year, so she'll probably get it by inertia.

 

[UConnCat]

Thomas was 1st team last year, so she'll probably get it by inertia.

True, but I just looked at her stats and they are pretty impressive and she's playing on a team that has lost some key guards. I'm partially influenced by her very poor performance against UConn and I don't think she played that well against Duke either.

 

[Vowelguy]

Smith has always impressed me as stupid.

Well, if stupid impresses you ...

 

[UConnCat]

I'm guessing you meant UNimpressive?

No, I meant impressive. She's averaging 17 ppg (44%), 10.4 rpg and has dished out 130 assists. She has a lot of TOs (102) but she's had to assume some point guard responsibilities. But she didn't play well against the toughest competition.

 

[Jonathan Husky]

It's basically about choosing a team. Your starting 5 who would you like to have? If you get rid of small/power forward distinction and point/shooting guard distinction, you have clear two best guards in Sims and Diggins so they should be on the team.
Then you have KML, Ogwumike and EDD. Purely from statistics perpective KML comes out last in that equation.

Guard 1: Sims
Guard 2: Diggins
Forward 1: Ogwumike
Forward 2: KML or EDD (objectively I'd pick EDD)
Center: Griner

This would leave #3 team in the nation (might be #2 if we beat ND) without AA representative, but UConn really doesn't have one this year. KML is just as important or probably less important to UConn's success as Dolson. If Dolson is our MVP than how could KML be our AA rep? I'd say right now that both along with Faris are second team AA.

Based on total (all games) played so far this season KLM is ahead of Diggins for AA. Based on number of twitter followers, looks and PR Diggins is ahead of KLM. Let's decide on quality of play for the entire season. There should be a top 10 not a top 5. Too many good players.

 

[Icebear]

But to help KML's case over EDD, the competition UConn has faced is much better than that of Delaware. Not saying that EDD wouldn't be just as successful on a BCS team, but the quality of competition is a factor, imho.

Yeah, it's like EDD is playing in the PAC12.

 

[UCONNfan1]

Which makes her consistency all the more remarkable. She's the focus of the defense, but she still ends up producing. Yes she takes more shots than KML, but she's also hitting around 58% of her shots. It's not like she is putting up bricks with every shot she takes.

Just to note - she's averaging 22.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 assists, and 1.26 steals per game. And she's shooting 79% from the charity stripe.

And she shoots mostly layups vs. KML who shoots over half her shots from beyond the arc.

 

[pap49cba]

No way EDD is 1st team (IMO) but she probably gets it so the voters can say they were being "fair" in choosing someone from a mid-major. Picking just five players is stupid to begin with.

 

[ScarlettB]

I would select Griner, Sims, Diggins, KML and Chiney as my first team. I think it is fine to select someone from a mid major, but would expect them to be on par with someone like Jackie Stiles. EDD is very good, but she has been ill for a good portion of the year. Unfortunately for KML, she is only a sophomore and EDD is a senior, so some voters will go with EDD and figure KML has two more years to make the first team.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Her shots are not lay-ups or close range, she has people hanging all over her and makes some incredible moves.

She makes moves and has the defense all over her, but her shots are mostly inside 6'.

 

[UConn990411]

No way EDD is 1st team (IMO) but she probably gets it so the voters can say they were being "fair" in choosing someone from a mid-major. Picking just five players is stupid to begin with.

Huh? She's averaging 25-8.5-2 with 1.1 steals and 2.3 blocks mixed in. And her shooting splits are Larry Bird-esque: 50% from the floor, 49% from 3, and 92% from the line. Considering Delaware is 14-0 in conference, ranked #18 in the country and has only lost once with her, I'd say she belongs.

Along with EDD, Chiney, Griner and KML are a notch ahead of the rest of the pack. I think Sims is a better player than Diggins, but she hasn't been this season. When you factor in that both teams have the same record and Diggins doesn't have the luxury of playing with the best player in the country, I think she gets the nod.

This year's First Team All-American team should be relatively easy to choose:
G - Diggins
F - Mosqueda-Lewis
F - EDD
F - Chiney
C - Griner

 

[cardfan]

She makes moves and has the defense all over her, but her shots are mostly inside 6'.

Yea, and she makes it looks very easy, but it's not. It takes a lot skill to have good footwork, post moves and shoot with either hand with players climbing all over you.

 

[cardfan]

And she shoots mostly layups vs. KML who shoots over half her shots from beyond the arc.

She doesn't shoot mostly lay-ups, trust me. KML is the best pure shooter in bball, but it's apples and oranges comparing her skills to Chiney's.