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

[ladybears4eva]

. . . and at least one is taken.

OK, conceede one seat at the All-American table to Brittney Griner. She's not only the biggest, but unquestionably the most dominant player in wcbb.

Four seats remaining.

A strong case must be made for Odyssey Sims, Griner's terrific teammate, arguably the best point guard, BUT. . .

Skylar Diggins is also a point guard, surely the most photogenic and undoubtedly the best left-handed PG now playing.

Those two ladies may claim one or two seats at this choice table. There are three others with credentials that demand consideration.

Elena Delle Donne is one. She has propelled an otherwise mediocre team in a rinky-dink league to a place in the rankings and a certain invitation to the Big Dance. She has preferred triple-A to the Big Leagues, like an Off Broadway star. But she is good enough to deserve to be considered for AA honors.

Chiney evokes memories of her superb sis, and she is carrying a good team to a likely Final Four appearance.

Finally, our very own Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. She is not only the best shooter in wcbb, but in my not-at-all humble opinion, as good a player as anybody I just mentioned. Others may be bigger, but none are better. So, KML, sit down at the AA table and look for the day (soon, I hope) when your name is squeezed on the Wall of Honor in Gampel. With Diana and Maya and all those other UConn legends.

KML, AA. Period.

I'm thinking of putting Griner, sims, KML, EDD, Diggins.

 

[ladybears4eva]

I think Ogwumike isn't in, her team isn't as good as KML. But then again... EDD has a lousy team...

It will be close for the AP...Wade...

The wbca will be larger so edd and KML are in for sure

 

[ladybears4eva]

Should EDD be penalized for missing allot which lead her team to lose many times?

Ogwumike has had some questionable losses... And a beat down by uconn.

Which I think negates duke... They got pounded by uconn . No star showed up there.

 

[ladybears4eva]

I think scoring should matter....

I think if uconn ties notredame for the year, and KML shows her worth, then she can become a lock...

If Ogwumike loses PAC 12 race... That'd be a tough negative....

Thomas is a gamer as well... But she wasn't that great against uconn.


Stars need to show up in big games, like KML did. That's star power.

 

[ladybears4eva]

Is age going to go into effect here?

EDD as a senior might get the nod, and she did get it last year as well.

KML does have 2 years left to be a first team AA.

 

[ladybears4eva]

It will go down to who gets more votes. And seniority and wins are a big deal there

 

[ladybears4eva]

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.

I agree it's a preference of sorts...

Would a first team all American, who won a NCAA title really miss the following year? That'd be a rare thing.

 

[ladybears4eva]

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.

She did play so well in the world university games... She can score!

 

[ladybears4eva]

Smith has always impressed me as stupid.

I feel she's a little off sometimes. Or late to the game.

 

[cardfan]

I think Ogwumike isn't in, her team isn't as good as KML. But then again... EDD has a lousy team...

It will be close for the AP...Wade...

The wbca will be larger so edd and KML are in for sure

It's an individual award, not team. Chiney does more for her team. Without her, Stanford would not be top 25. A KML less UConn would still be top 5.

 

[MilfordHusky]

It's an individual award, not team. Chiney does more for her team. Without her, Stanford would not be top 25. A KML less UConn would still be top 5.

Nah, disagree. Without Chiney, the Cardinal would be about 10-15. You have a lot of talent and a great coach. You'd still be a little better than UCLA.

Without Kaleena, we'd be about 5, given Stewie's and Bria's struggles.

 

[MilfordHusky]

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.

Sounds like Stef Dolson too.

Chiney gets a lot of offensive putbacks that are much easier shots. Once she gets rebounding position, most of the work is done. I'm not denigrating that, nor am I saying that CO gets all easy shots, but she does not have Nneka's range yet. I have her as the #2 or 3 player in the country.

 

[cardfan]

Sounds like Stef Dolson too.

Chiney gets a lot of offensive putbacks that are much easier shots. Once she gets rebounding position, most of the work is done. I'm not denigrating that, nor am I saying that CO gets all easy shots, but she does not have Nneka's range yet. I have her as the #2 or 3 player in the country.

Chiney is the best rebounder in the country.

 

[wallman]

Too early to pick but I love how Cardfan keeps insulting her team, priceless!

Here's a thought without Griner and the other Baylor seniors would Sims be in this discussion?

 

[Sakibomb25]

Should EDD be penalized for missing allot which lead her team to lose many times?

Ogwumike has had some questionable losses... And a beat down by uconn.

Which I think negates duke... They got pounded by uconn . No star showed up there.

What questionable losses? UConn is No. 2 in the country and Cal is No. 6.

 

[cardfan]

Too early to pick but I love how Cardfan keeps insulting her team, priceless!

Here's a thought without Griner and the other Baylor seniors would Sims be in this discussion?

I'm not insulting my team. Just being realistic. We'd be no where without Chiney.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I'm not insulting my team. Just being realistic. We'd be no where without Chiney.

You'd be not far from the teams ranked 8-12. You'd be better than Cuse, UDel, UCLA, and Louisville at least. That's not very good given your recent history, but you give too much credit to the teams outside the top 5.

 

[boontonbomber]

KML and EDD are the 2 best shooters in wcbb. EDD is very good at everything, except at the defensive end. she's the best all-around player . i think KML is the next best all-around player. she's a great scorer , an oustanding rebounder, handles the ball very solidly, and has become a much better passer and defender.
hard to imagine either one of them not making all of the teams named. Chiney, for example, is just not in the same league as either one of them when it comes to being able to do a lot of things really well.

 

[pap49cba]

Unfortunately the voters' attitudes likely will be, well, KML is only a soph so her time will come. I also can't help wondering if there is an anti-Uconn sentiment out in the hinterlands when it comes to stuff like this. Kelly has been totally ignored for 4 years.

 

[turtlespeed]

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.

You think it is remarkable that Michelle picked Thomas for the first team AA. I find it remarkable that you find it remarkable. Let me give you a few facts why Thomas should be a repeat first team AA again this year.

Alyssa Thomas stats are 17.4 ppg, 44.6 FG%, 10.4 rbpg, 5.2 apg, 2 spg, According to Debbie Antonelli, who did the research, Thomas is the only player going back to the 1999-2000 season in college basketball that has average over 15 ppg, 10 rbpg, and 5 apg in a year.

Thomas is playing on a team that had their two starting guards taken out for the season with acl's in the beginning of the year. Thus, Thomas took over much of the PG responsibilities. They call her a point forward. She is more versatile than any of the players being considered for first team AA. She can play any position on the team including center.

She is the main reason why MD has stayed in the top ten all year. If you take her out of the team, MD would not be in the top 50 teams in the NCAA. And don't forget how she is double teamed in every game.

Regarding Thomas' poorer play in the beginning of the season, she had her tonsils taken out in September and missed two months of practice before the season started. Shortly after this she dislocated her finger on her shooting hand which caused her poor shooting percentage and ball handling problems in the beginning of the year. Through it all she just played on with tapped fingers most of the time and tried the best she could. However, it did affect her game early on.

 

[Icebear]

Thomas isn't even MVP for MD this year.

 

[turtlespeed]

Thomas isn't even MVP for MD this year.

Really? You would be the only one voting for Hawkins. Thomas has almost the same points as Hawkins, Thomas has more rebounds, way more assists and steals. Without Thomas, MD is not top 50, without Hawkins MD is still top 25. Thomas is doubled teamed, Hawkins is not, which allows Hawkins to play better.

 

[cardfan]

KML and EDD are the 2 best shooters in wcbb. EDD is very good at everything, except at the defensive end. she's the best all-around player . i think KML is the next best all-around player. she's a great scorer , an oustanding rebounder, handles the ball very solidly, and has become a much better passer and defender.
hard to imagine either one of them not making all of the teams named. Chiney, for example, is just not in the same league as either one of them when it comes to being able to do a lot of things really well.

obviously you haven't seen her play.

 

[VAUConnFan]

It's an individual award, not team. Chiney does more for her team. Without her, Stanford would not be top 25. A KML less UConn would still be top 5.

Your reasoning is sound, understandable, and universally accepted: But, why punish someone for being on a better team?

 

[cardfan]

Your reasoning is sound, understandable, and universally accepted: But, why punish someone for being on a better team?

I'm not punishing KML at all. I said she is the best shooter in the game and would pick her over Diggins on my team. My pt was stat wise - Chiney has gaudy stats because she doesn't get much help and comparing a wing to post is not exactly fair. I'd take em both.