Top 25 Returning WCBB Players
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This list as laughable at best. For starters Aaliyah should be ahead of Kitley, Miles, Brink, and Jackson. Where is Alissa Pili who was Pac-12 player of the year and a second team all american last season? Also, no Kiki Rice or Kamilla Cardoso? What about Ta'niya Latson? I would take any of the players I listed over probably 1/3 of the players mentioned on this list. Heck, I'd add Shyanne Sellers to my list too before Gonazelez or Gustin. While I am at it, does anyone really think Sydney Parrish is the 18th best womens college basketball in the country? C'mon!
Well, I’m not one to talk since I’d have a hard time doing such a ranking myself, but there’s a few head scratchers to say the least.
For one thing, I have a hard time imagining a scenario where Kamilla Cardoso won’t be a top 25 player.
And Reese above Paige?
For one thing, I have a hard time imagining a scenario where Kamilla Cardoso won’t be a top 25 player.
And Reese above Paige?
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MilfordHusky
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I know she's been out a year, but Paige is ranked too low.
I'm happy to see the Croatian Sensation getting some respect--#13!
I'm happy to see the Croatian Sensation getting some respect--#13!
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With due respect to what Nika has brought to UConn, especially during lean personnel times, that she's ranked in the Top 25 is startling to me. Some of us wouldn't have her as a starter for the Huskies.
Harmon and Sheldon are two of the best guards in the country, way too low in the rankings.
This won't sit well here either, but Azzi is ranked on her press clippings and potential (as, I guess, are some of the others). Ahead of Holmes and Brink? Kidding, right?
I'd also have Paige ahead of Reese, who rode the shooting of an unheralded reserve to the title.
Carnac
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Milford, I like your moniker for Nika. I have to borrow it at least once. You’ll see it when I do. It will be after the season starts. I’ll find a clever way to use it when I’m giving her some flowers.
Bald Husky
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This list just shows that some BYers are too close to the action or too biased to see how good Nika is. During national telecasts, and the people making this list have a great opinion of what she brings to the court. Don't forget, she was a top 5 finalist for the Lieberman trophy for the best point guard in the country last year. It's pretty funny that at times outside opinions are closer to right than some inside opinions. Face it, in what she does she is great, and not many players are great at all aspects of the game. I for one love what she does, and it will be hard to replace what she brings to the team. I love this girl and will really miss her when she graduates.
diggerfoot
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Put yourself in the shoes of a general wcbb observer who does not follow the Boneyard. Sacrilege perhaps, but they do exist.
You note the following credentials that have national recognition:
Two time DPOY in her conference.
Single game assist record for the most storied program.
Season assist record for the most storied program.
The woman singled out by the storied Clark for her tenacious defense on her.
Was second only to Clark with assists, but with a significantly better A/T ratio.
Her shooting percentages are in line with other top, pure point guards.
Her biggest “fault,” that she does not shoot much even for a top pure point guard, is not something that would be on the radar of an outside observer basing their decisions on mostly nationally recognized and/or empirical considerations.
Eliminating all subjective assessments of skills, potential, insider knowledge, etc, there are not many top 25 players in the country that can boast such an empirically established resume as Muhl. Ironically enough, it’s only on a forum such as the BY where such empirical and nationally recognized achievements would be denigrated by a variety of subjective, analytical considerations, with such hyperbole as “startling” or “no-brainer.”
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diggerfoot
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Great minds ….
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If not for a team wide slump in February Nika would have likely finished the season ahead of Caitlin in assists and that would have added yet another amazing accomplishment to her resume. I suppose, if that occurred, your response to an appreciation thread would be your trademark .
Nika truly is the Rodney Dangerfield of Uconn wcbb. Aside from having, I would guess, the record for the most threads shut down, assumedly because of back and forth specifically about her, Nan in the latest ( the starting five thread) named the elephant in the room..."but we are NOT having yet another thread rehashing opinions on Nika. It’s all been said a million times already".
One thing is for sure, when Nika moves on from Uconn she will have left her mark on all of us. I for one am in total agreement with Geno, Nika is Unique! Whatever any of our opinions are on her talent, position on the roster or other debatable areas I assume we all love that she chose to be a Husky. Gotta love the kid, she bleeds blue from every pore of her being!
meyers7
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Well, anyone can post on YouTube. Heck they have a whole 32 subscribers.
PacoSwede
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while i think such lists are just fodder for folks like us, i gotta say that i was (pleasantly) startled to find nika on the list at #13(?). i am a fan of nika's many vital contributions to the successes of the nation's most legendary WBB program, but this recognition on a 'top 25' list amazed me.
but, comments here and in the recent 'starting five' thread had me wondering why i was surprised by nika's inclusion; now i see even i had been discounting nika's accomplishments.
maybe i had been influenced by the many BY comments slighting her (and i appreciate the BY's many nika defenders). and maybe i was influenced even more by the situation she's been in -- surrounded by some of the best players in the ncaa today on a legendary team that has had multiple extraordinary players over the years.
of course she is judged in that context. she is not a paige bueckers or sue bird or diana taurasi; nor a breanna stewart, maya moore or nykesha sales etc. etc. etc.
she's not a ticha penitchiero either, but maybe i (and others) can realize she's uconn's closest version (apologies to ines). now i realize that's why she deserves mention as a 'top 25' -- even a top 13 -- player.
but, comments here and in the recent 'starting five' thread had me wondering why i was surprised by nika's inclusion; now i see even i had been discounting nika's accomplishments.
maybe i had been influenced by the many BY comments slighting her (and i appreciate the BY's many nika defenders). and maybe i was influenced even more by the situation she's been in -- surrounded by some of the best players in the ncaa today on a legendary team that has had multiple extraordinary players over the years.
of course she is judged in that context. she is not a paige bueckers or sue bird or diana taurasi; nor a breanna stewart, maya moore or nykesha sales etc. etc. etc.
she's not a ticha penitchiero either, but maybe i (and others) can realize she's uconn's closest version (apologies to ines). now i realize that's why she deserves mention as a 'top 25' -- even a top 13 -- player.
MilfordHusky
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I like your list! To add more context, I would add a little verbiage--"Single-season assist record for the most storied program, shattering the great Sue Bird's record, which had stood for 2 decades." Any time someone outdoes Sue, it's noteworthy.
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Oh woe, we don't have any decent players.
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And Ayoka Lee is not mentioned.
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SC had the best talent and health during the Boston years. Hard to believe they only won 1 chip. Last year was inexcusable. I'm not a big fan of your coach. She is one of the main reasons they have underachieved. SC still has Top 5 or Top 10 at worst talent this year. Let's see what they do without the pressure of being top dog.
36-1 is inexcusable? Would you say the same for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 UConn teams? Or the 2012-13 Baylor team?
Any team, no matter their talent level, can have an off night at the wrong time.
....and she even chose to come here after PB was known to be a future Husky.
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I wonder how much Nika really knew about Paige before she committed.
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I think she went into it eyes open. Couldn't find the early article where she spoke about it when asked about committing to Uconn knowing Paige had just committed, but the jist of it was to be the best you have to play against the best so she was anxious about being able to go up against Paige in practices. Here's a couple quotes from Paige and Nika (after committing) from another article:
"I consider myself a combo guard," Bueckers said. "And from what I've heard, [Muhl] is unselfish and a pass-first point guard who will put the team first. I'm looking forward to getting to know her."
Added Muhl: "[Bueckers] is a great player. It's going to be fun. I think we are going to make each other better. Hopefully, we can win championships together."
I think they both called it spot on. I just hope Nika's last line is realized in April 2024!
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Well said, #12in21. Nika will be long remembered, and appreciated for all she's brought to the program.
As for her being a Rodney Dangerfield, she's anything but. The few of us BYers who dare to question Nika's energetic and persuasive advocates are regularly shot down. It seems Nika gets at least her share of respect here, wholly deserved or not... IMO, okay?
LSU rode Reese to the title period. Other had a good game here and there but she was outstanding all year and even better when she was needed to step up. If UCONN had played to their potential in the playoffs they would have a title but their stars that were healthy disappeared in the game that mattered most. That does NOT mean I don't respect them or think they are great players.
Now for Nika. She was the best player on UCONN the past two years that actually played. She showed up every night, she defended players better than any other player in the league two year in a row and broke the assists record at the most heralded school in the nation. If you are ranking the best 25 scorers in the country she isn't on the list, but a basketball player is much more than offense. This year she will have players at her level or above around her and we will all be shocked at what a difference it makes in her game too.
nwhoopfan
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Strongly disagree. She was REALLY up and down in the Tourney. Several of her teammates were at least as responsible for the Championship as she was.
Saw this in my YouTube feed tonight.
UCONN is well represented, but I say what's a list of "The Best" without some controversy? Let's hear it.
I read the whole list and have come to the conclusion that the list should be expanded to 50 returning players to satisfy all posters. I am overjoyed that Uconn has 4 players on the list and I don't care where they are listed. I also think that Caroline should have been listed also.Try to make an engine run without a spark plug, it won't. NIKA is Uconn's spark plug and by far( naysayers aside) the best defensive player Uconns ever had. I based my conclusion on the fact the game has progressed exponentially in the last 5or 6 years and defense is a greater factor in winning or losing. The next 3 years are going to belong to Uconn and the "bad for BB" Montra again. GO HUSKIES!!!
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