The conundrum of being a UCONN star...

[rugbymate]

Kelsey Mitchell, who is a great player and by all accounts a terrific student athlete had 42 points yesterday. Well done and congratulations. Mo , in limited playing time, had 7points. At season end, when all the national awards are voted on by presumably knowledgeable people one has to hope that those voting look at the OSU-UCONN box score. They will see KM with 8 points on 2-14 shooting, which Mo had a lot to do with, and Mo with 21 pts on 10-15 shooting. We all know who is the most complete guard in WCBB. Just hoping the rest of the universe can look beyond the stats. Sorry for the rant but it has always been a bit troubling to see some of our players greatness not get full recognition( Tuck, Williams, Nurse et al)

 

[johnnyc]

Kelsey Mitchell, who is a great player and by all accounts a terrific student athlete had 42 points yesterday. Well done and congratulations. Mo , in limited playing time, had 7points. At season end, when all the national awards are voted on by presumably knowledgeable people one has to hope that those voting look at the OSU-UCONN box score. They will see KM with 8 points on 2-14 shooting, which Mo had a lot to do with, and Mo with 21 pts on 10-15 shooting. We all know who is the most complete guard in WCBB. Just hoping the rest of the universe can look beyond the stats. Sorry for the rant but it has always been a bit troubling to see some of our players greatness not get full recognition( Tuck, Williams, Nurse et al)

Jefferson won the Lieberman award last season. I don't think she is being put in the shadow. I do understand what your getting at I think. The concept of the team has a lot to do with a player's output. As Geno said recently if he wanted to he could tell Stewart to shoot 25 times a game and she will put up 50. That's not how UConn goes about it. I think people in the game recognize that. More importantly the players buy into that.

 

[sarals24]

Why do you think they don't get recognition? They are the most written-about, talked about team in the nation.

 

[Huskies Rule]

I would think the goal of most top high school girls basketball players is to win an NCAA Championship. And while dozens of universities legitimately believe they have both the personnel and the coaching staff to accomplish that, results of the last ten years have shown otherwise. Besides UConn, very few other schools (ND, Baylor, Maryland, Louisville, Stanford) have even sniffed the FF and Championship games.

After watching those few elite programs win, year after year, a player may come to the realization that the ultimate goal of winning the championship just isn't going to happen. It doesn't seem unreasonable that at some point individual goals may supplant championship goals as the new priority. They now know they're never going to hoist the NCAA trophy, so maybe scoring 25, 30 points a game is the next best thing, getting lots of press and individual accolades when championships are clearly nothing but a pipedream.

Geno recruits kids who could easily score 25, 30 points a game, no problem. But he wants the kid who prioritizes winning championships over points and individual glory- the kid who is willing to do all those things which don't get the publicity and All-American kudos- like being a great defender, rebounder and passer. A 'winner' who will gladly sacrifice and do whatever is in the best interest of the team's success. Geno demands that his players become great teammates- not good teammates but great ones. Sure it's difficult on the kids at times; I'm certain Morgan and Kia would like (and deserve) to be recognized for their excellence. They would be stars on any other team in the country and recognized as such- but that ain't what it's about at UConn.

Helping their teams win championships is the only thing that matters for Morgan and Kia. For these truly great players there is no 'conundrum.' Those NCAA Championships are the ultimate, life-changing reward, as Geno has said (GA: "Your lives will be changed forever.")

 

[rugbymate]

Why do you think they don't get recognition? They are the most written-about, talked about team in the nation.

Its not that UCONN players don't get recognized, as evidenced by the deserved awards that Mo and Stewie have received. The issue is by giving up one's self for the betterment of team goals/NCs, the resultant impact on personal stats doesn't give the complete picture of one's contributions or skills. Every single UCONN starter could average 25 ppg on almost any other team. I suspect Williams, Tuck and Nurse could could be elevated in the AA discussion if they played elsewhere given the stats they could pile up. However, they chose NC's over personal glory. We, as fans, have been huge beneficiaries of this mindset. So I'm hoping that those who vote for individual awards look through the broad statistical data when they make their choices and look deeper at things like the MO/Kelsey matchup which was decidedly one sided.

 

[BroadwayVa]

Why do you think they don't get recognition? They are the most written-about, talked about team in the nation.

Written about and awards are two different horses. I hate use to typical or typically because it implies more than I want to convey. But--Typically those voting look at offensive skills and not a t defensive skill also (my belief) they look at output per game rather than output per minute per game. (Gabby and KLS (last game) would win). Geno "typically" doesn't let a player like Stewie or Jefferson--"go off " on a team and run up 50 points. Maya has hit 40, but that is unusual. Lot of misconceptions here but I believe most of this--so have at it..

 

[bbsamjj]

I would say both Jefferson and Mitchell do what their teams need them to do to win. Mitchell scored 42pts, and her team needed them to beat a very good Texas A&M squad. OSU is very talented, but they are not UConn talented. Jefferson, a great senior, sometimes scores when her team needs her to, and sometimes doesn't when they need something else. I would expect both to be named first team AA this year, and if their play continues, deservedly.

 

[Carnac]

I would think the goal of most top high school girls basketball players is to win an NCAA Championship. And while dozens of universities legitimately believe they have both the personnel and the coaching staff to accomplish that, results of the last ten years have shown otherwise. Besides UConn, very few other schools (ND, Baylor, Maryland, Louisville, Stanford) have even sniffed the FF and Championship games.

After watching those few elite programs win, year after year, a player may come to the realization that the ultimate goal of winning the championship just isn't going to happen. It doesn't seem unreasonable that at some point individual goals may supplant championship goals as the new priority. They now know they're never going to hoist the NCAA trophy, so maybe scoring 25, 30 points a game is the next best thing, getting lots of press and individual accolades when championships are clearly nothing but a pipedream.

Geno recruits kids who could easily score 25, 30 points a game, no problem. But he wants the kid who prioritizes winning championships over points and individual glory- the kid who is willing to do all those things which don't get the publicity and All-American kudos- like being a great defender, rebounder and passer. A 'winner' who will gladly sacrifice and do whatever is in the best interest of the team's success. Geno demands that his players become great teammates- not good teammates but great ones. Sure it's difficult on the kids at times; I'm certain Morgan and Kia would like (and deserve) to be recognized for their excellence. They would be stars on any other team in the country and recognized as such- but that ain't what it's about at UConn.

Helping their teams win championships is the only thing that matters for Morgan and Kia. For these truly great players there is no 'conundrum.' Those NCAA Championships are the ultimate, life-changing reward, as Geno has said (GA: "Your lives will be changed forever.")

Thank you HR, an excellent and well written post.

 

[sarals24]

Its not that UCONN players don't get recognized, as evidenced by the deserved awards that Mo and Stewie have received. The issue is by giving up one's self for the betterment of team goals/NCs, the resultant impact on personal stats doesn't give the complete picture of one's contributions or skills. Every single UCONN starter could average 25 ppg on almost any other team. I suspect Williams, Tuck and Nurse could could be elevated in the AA discussion if they played elsewhere given the stats they could pile up. However, they chose NC's over personal glory. We, as fans, have been huge beneficiaries of this mindset. So I'm hoping that those who vote for individual awards look through the broad statistical data when they make their choices and look deeper at things like the MO/Kelsey matchup which was decidedly one sided.

I've heard Morgan mentioned by announcers as being in the mix for AA status, and I suspect she will find her way on a team this year. I don't think Mo will be left out. I'm sure in the next few years Nurse will be on a team as well, especially after Mo/Stewie/Tuck graduate. And Kelsey Mitchell deserves consideration for AA, as would anyone putting up the gaudy numbers she does. She was shut down by the best defensive team in the country, so what? So is everyone else.

I have no problem with those players getting recognition, it's good for the game to have individual stars that people outside the hardcore fanbase can follow.

 

[iamcbs]

Why do you think they don't get recognition? They are the most written-about, talked about team in the nation.

Ain't that the Damn Truth!!

 

[chrissaran]

I agree with rugbymate. As a team and Breanna, but the individual efforts of the other players are not always recognized by broadcasters and the people who watch women's college basketball.

 

[Geno-ista]

There are a lot of truths on this thread and some bad over generalizations.
Many of the stars on other teams may or may not be surrounded by enough talent, BB I Q, and other intangibles. That doesn't make them automatically selfish or less team oriented. It's not very easy to put up 20-30 every game when the other team keys on the 1 or two people that can score effectively. Conversely, when you come to UConn, and play with the caliber of individuals- talent, BB IQ, coaching and all the otherintangibles that we know- many great role players can look even better than they are because they are made so much better by their teammates on the floor. Kemba & Shabazz weren't selfish- they were leaders, and like Turasi, put solid teams with good role players on their back. Geno said it best in an interview years ago. If they are a star at UConn, they tend to be stars in the pros. If they are great role players in college, they usually become the same in the pros. We have 2 superstars currently- and a great supporting cast.

 

[Huskies Rule]

Thank you HR, an excellent and well written post.

I really appreciate your thanks, oh wise and magnificent Carnac, but could you send money instead?

 

[Carnac]

I really appreciate your thanks, oh wise and magnificent Carnac, but could you send money instead?

The check is in the mail!