This week’s AP Player of the Week is…

[oldude]

No, conference POY is not a requirement to win the Wade.

I stand corrected

 

[WiseWillie]

I’m not sure a UConn player will dominate the award all year. Opponents are tougher in the P4 conferences, making outstanding play against them more impressive to voters

That unfortunately is a truism that exists being in the Big East Conference which is why a strong nonconference schedule is so fundamentally important for a number of reasons including NPOY consideration.

 

[huskyd]

Interesting that Azzi has a higher percentage from 3 than 2. I have noticed that she is missing some short jumpers that would have been money in the past. Seems to be aiming to ball instead of just tossing it up. She rarely thinks when firing off 3s; maybe there's just too much time with 2s.
Well, Geno has said many times that every time Azzi shoots he expects it to go in. Shortly, maybe it will: no Fudding around.

 

[BBallF]

Did you forget KML already?

I haven't but Azzi's game is much more versatile. Putting the 3 ball aside, she is a better driver, has a better pull up, and has become a better defender. Let's not forget she was MOP last year and didn't have a great tourney just a good one.

 

[faninwisc]

One issue to keep in mind. The Wade Trophy is selected by the WBCA. I believe in order to be considered, you have to win your conference POY. Highly likely that Azzi & Sarah will be 1 & 2 in some order when it comes to BEPOY.

In 2000 Kelly Miller was the SEC Player of the Year but Tamika Catchings won the Naismith Award.

 

[HuskyNan]

I haven't but Azzi's game is much more versatile. Putting the 3 ball aside, she is a better driver, has a better pull up, and has become a better defender. Let's not forget she was MOP last year and didn't have a great tourney just a good one.

Kaleena, also #1 out of high school like Azzi, is a three time national champion and holds the record for having the Huskies’ first triple-double in NCAA tournament play. Her career averages were 15.3 points, 5.3 reb, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals. If you watch some highlight videos of the team, you’ll see Kaleena had a pretty pull up j and a great turnaround jump shot. Did she play like Azzi - no, her role was different because she had teammates that filled the role of slasher, like Morgan. But Kaleena was a versatile and valuable player. I think the passage of time has blurred the memory of how terrific a college player she was.

 

[BBallF]

Kaleena, also #1 out of high school like Azzi, is a three time national champion and holds the record for having the Huskies’ first triple-double in NCAA tournament play. Her career averages were 15.3 points, 5.3 reb, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals. If you watch some highlight videos of the team, you’ll see Kaleena had a pretty pull up j and a great turnaround jump shot. Did she play like Azzi - no, her role was different because she had teammates that filled the role of slasher, like Morgan. But Kaleena was a versatile and valuable player. I think the passage of time has blurred the memory of how terrific a college player she was.

Fair enough.

 

[oldude]

Kaleena, also #1 out of high school like Azzi, is a three time national champion and holds the record for having the Huskies’ first triple-double in NCAA tournament play. Her career averages were 15.3 points, 5.3 reb, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals. If you watch some highlight videos of the team, you’ll see Kaleena had a pretty pull up j and a great turnaround jump shot. Did she play like Azzi - no, her role was different because she had teammates that filled the role of slasher, like Morgan. But Kaleena was a versatile and valuable player. I think the passage of time has blurred the memory of how terrific a college player she was.

Like Azzi, KML played on some absolutely loaded teams: Stef, Bria, Kiah, Stewie, Tuck & Mo to name a few. Because she played with so many talented Bigs. She ended up playing the 2-guard, where she was an absolute mismatch. A great 3-pt shooter, she could take just about any defender inside and bully through them for a basket.

 

[BBallF]

She was a truly great college player but it was not the same for her in the W. The difference to me between her and Azzi is the speed and quickness and by the latter I mean off the bounce, with the jumper, and also as a cutter. I would also take Azzi's shot because it is an effortless push from 3 and because of that she can shoot it all throughout the game without her legs not being as much of an issue as it would for others. I see Azzi being recognized eventually as one of the great players in her generation along with Paige and Sarah and others of course.

 

[reelfan]

We have Azzi / Sarah....you don't.

 

[HuskyNan]

Like Azzi, KML played on some absolutely loaded teams: Stef, Bria, Kiah, Stewie, Tuck & Mo to name a few. Because she played with so many talented Bigs. She ended up playing the 2-guard, where she was an absolute mismatch. A great 3-pt shooter, she could take just about any defender inside and bully through them for a basket.

She played wing. It was Moria, Kia, Kaleena, Morgan, and Stewie

It seems like a million years ago, lol. Like I said things get a little blurry

 

[oldude]

She played wing. It was Moria, Kia, Kaleena, Morgan, and Stewie

It seems like a million years ago, lol. Like I said things get a little blurry

Her first two years, Steph, Stewie & Tuck were up front, although Tuck was injured at one point

 

[FanSince17]

February 1, 2022 vs Tennessee in Hartford
Azzi Fudd- 7-9 from 3, 9-16 overall, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 25 points
Her first start. Returning from injury, Her 8th game. Started in place of Caroline. Freshman year.
That’s the game I remember. Absolutely insane. Azzi blew this game open to the max.
I’ve said it here before, with some downward thumbs, that Azzi isn’t totally locked in yet. (9-11 vs Utah certainly a good sign) I’ve actually been to 3 games- Louis, MI, and UT.
No jinxing allowed- Will we see shooting the likes none of us have ever seen before? KML, CC, Plum, Sabrina
Could this be total insanity. We already witnessed the FF.

 

[Boreifs]

Her first two years, Steph, Stewie & Tuck were up front, although Tuck was injured at one point

She was the class before Stewie, Morgan and Moriah. This is not accurate.

 

[BBallF]

February 1, 2022 vs Tennessee in Hartford
Azzi Fudd- 7-9 from 3, 9-16 overall, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 25 points
Her first start. Returning from injury, Her 8th game. Started in place of Caroline. Freshman year.
That’s the game I remember. Absolutely insane. Azzi blew this game open to the max.
I’ve said it here before, with some downward thumbs, that Azzi isn’t totally locked in yet. (9-11 vs Utah certainly a good sign) I’ve actually been to 3 games- Louis, MI, and UT.
No jinxing allowed- Will we see shooting the likes none of us have ever seen before? KML, CC, Plum, Sabrina
Could this be total insanity. We already witnessed the FF.

I don't know if I would say "not totally locked in yet" because she was very, very locked in against Michigan otherwise we have one loss. I prefer "has not hit her stride yet". I really think that when we see these numbers every game, and it's coming, we will all talk about her like it is a revelation. It's not. She is that good. BTW, I didn't think she had a great FF last year. She is better this year in subtle ways except for her defense, which ain't subtle at all.

 

[MSGRET]

I thought this was a thread about Azzi, now it seems to be about KML. I believe that Azzi has one of the purest shots in the history of UConn and if she had been able to play 4 complete seasons I believe that she would be close to or even passing Maya on career scoring list.

 

[oldude]

She was the class before Stewie, Morgan and Moriah. This is not accurate.

My mistake. The point I wanted to make was that she played on 2 championship teams with Stewie, Tuck, Steph & Kiah upfront. She played as a 2-guard during those years, not at wing.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Kaleena, also #1 out of high school like Azzi, is a three time national champion and holds the record for having the Huskies’ first triple-double in NCAA tournament play. Her career averages were 15.3 points, 5.3 reb, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals. If you watch some highlight videos of the team, you’ll see Kaleena had a pretty pull up j and a great turnaround jump shot. Did she play like Azzi - no, her role was different because she had teammates that filled the role of slasher, like Morgan. But Kaleena was a versatile and valuable player. I think the passage of time has blurred the memory of how terrific a college player she was.

Kaleena was a 2x All-American and missed making it the year when she injured her elbow. She had a great career and one of the best NCAA tourney careers. She scored in double-figures in all 23 games.

 

[Boreifs]

My mistake. The point I wanted to make was that she played on 2 championship teams with Stewie, Tuck, Steph & Kiah upfront. She played as a 2-guard during those years, not at wing.

True.

 

[Skeets]

There are three major (Wade, Wooden, and Naismith) and several minor awards (USBWA and AP, probably others), so it's possible they each win some (as Maya Moore and Tina Charles did).

It's an honor to win any award, but as far as "major" awards are concerned I am the least impressed with "Naismith". This is considered to be a major award only because of the name "Naismith". If it was named anything else, it would be a minor award.

The problem with USBWA and AP is that every once in a while, I get the feeling there is a "homer" or 2 trying to influence the award. But at least these awards are voted on by people whose job it is to know what they are doing.

 

[fomalhaut]

It's an honor to win any award, but as far as "major" awards are concerned I am the least impressed with "Naismith". This is considered to be a major award only because of the name "Naismith". If it was named anything else, it would be a minor award.

How is that any less true of Wooden? The Wade Trophy has generally been considered the most prestigious, being the oldest and specifically awarded for women's basketball, but the Paige Bueckers fiasco tarnished that a bit. Fortunately they fixed the rules against freshmen winning.

 

[Crossover]

Kaleena, also #1 out of high school like Azzi, is a three time national champion and holds the record for having the Huskies’ first triple-double in NCAA tournament play. Her career averages were 15.3 points, 5.3 reb, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals. If you watch some highlight videos of the team, you’ll see Kaleena had a pretty pull up j and a great turnaround jump shot. Did she play like Azzi - no, her role was different because she had teammates that filled the role of slasher, like Morgan. But Kaleena was a versatile and valuable player. I think the passage of time has blurred the memory of how terrific a college player she was.

I appreciate your desire to give KML her due. She was, indeed, a "versatile and valuable" player on offense, and not just a "shooter". However, no one ever accused her of being a strong two-way player. Azzi's defense this year has been impressive.