UConn Assist Record - Nika

[Childhood]

The UConn site shows 218. She needs 14 to pass Sue's single-season record.

Caitlin Clark now has 224, including today's game. She leads the nation.

Clark has improved a lot on turnover issue.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Clark has improved a lot on turnover issue.

Nika has 96 turnovers; Caitlin has 101.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Gosh, I hope if Azzi can come back Nika can lead the nation in Assists!
I'd love for her to finish #1 in the country!

 

[DEpup]

I have to say that Gabby could be the most impressive on that list having all those assists and not actually the PG...

 

[MSGRET]

I would love to see her get it this Tuesday against St. John's at the XL in front of the home crowd.

 

[awhom111]

3 more assists leaves her 11 short of the record, which would mean more than one game at her current season average.

 

[oldude]

As much as I think it’s great that Nika will likely set the all time UConn assist record, it also highlights a problem that this UConn team is not a great overall passing team, particularly without Paige & Azzi on the court. At the current pace, only Nika will top 100 assists this season.

UConn has had some great passing teams through the years. IMO, the greatest was the 36-1 team in 2016-17. The 2016-17 team set the all time single season NCAA assist record with 863 assists (23.3 apg) breaking the record of the 40-0 UConn team from 2014-15. Gabby lead that team with 190 assists. But there were 4 other Huskies with over 100 assists each (Lou, Kia, Saniya, Crystal) and Pheesa was close with 83.

Everyone on that team, with the exception of Gabby could knock down 3’s. Their movement on offense was beautiful and they were devastating in transition, frequently blowing teams out before the first TV timeout.

Nika certainly deserves credit for her remarkable season at pg, while demonstrating incredible leadership. But this year we’ve all gotten used to low scoring, grind it out games that are far too close for comfort.

 

[JBK]

That is the combination I would like to see. It would appear that Nika's assists per minute would increase with those two to pass to. On the other hand with more dominant wins, I expect Nika's minutes to decrease somewhat, and she may share some of the ballhandling responsibilities with Paige.

Between Nika and Paige we will have two great passers on the floor most of the time, and Nika should benefit more offensively as well, with more open 3pt looks with the attention Paige and Azzi will draw, and of course being on the receiving end of some great passes from Paige. Nika may not scare any opponents with her overall scoring, but her shooting of open 3's has been pretty decent.

We definitely need to have the ball in Paige’s hands as well. We will need to be a dominate offensive team from all positions to win it all.

 

[npignatjr]

What she has done is remarkable when put up against the others and the teams they were on.

 

[MSGRET]

As much as I think it’s great that Nika will likely set the all time UConn assist record, it also highlights a problem that this UConn team is not a great overall passing team, particularly without Paige & Azzi on the court. At the current pace, only Nika will top 100 assists this season.

UConn has had some great passing teams through the years. IMO, the greatest was the 36-1 team in 2016-17. The 2016-17 team set the all time single season NCAA assist record with 863 assists (23.3 apg) breaking the record of the 40-0 UConn team from 2014-15. Gabby lead that team with 190 assists. But there were 4 other Huskies with over 100 assists each (Lou, Kia, Saniya, Crystal) and Pheesa was close with 83.

Everyone on that team, with the exception of Gabby could knock down 3’s. Their movement on offense was beautiful and they were devastating in transition, frequently blowing teams out before the first TV timeout.

Nika certainly deserves credit for her remarkable season at pg, while demonstrating incredible leadership. But this year we’ve all gotten used to low scoring, grind it out games that are far too close for comfort.

Could it be "low scoring, grind it out games" because they have been basically playing 5 players between 35 and 40 minutes a game for the last month and that they are all mentally and physically drained?

 

[oldude]

Could it be "low scoring, grind it out games" because they have been basically playing 5 players between 35 and 40 minutes a game for the last month and that they are all mentally and physically drained?

No doubt that’s a key part of it. UConn is not pressing on defense, forcing turnovers and pushing for transition offense, all of which result in easier baskets, more scoring and more assists. In addition, the inability to spread the floor in the half court offense with multiple shooters severely limits the offense for open threes and backdoor cuts. There are few easier assists then finding an open 3-pt shooter at the arc.

The other problem is that UConn just doesn’t have enough quality passing out of their starters. Dorka is decent for a BIG Lou is fine and Nika is outstanding. But Aaliyah & Aubrey struggle to deliver accurate and timely passes on offense and it doesn’t get a lot better when Caroline or anyone else off the bench is in the game.

Compare that to last year’s team with Paige, Azzi, Nika & Evina who were all outstanding passers, along with Liv who was an outstanding passer as a BIG. So it is a combination of things to be sure. But just as you want a team to be balanced from a scoring perspective, it’s not the best thing to have one player dominate the assist category.

 

[azfan]

The UConn site shows 218. She needs 14 to pass Sue's single-season record.

Caitlin Clark now has 224, including today's game. She leads the nation.

And Regan Schenck NAU point guard is tied for third place with 201.

 

[#12in21]

Love to see Nika have big assist numbers these next two games. As she has often said its more a team award, to her, rather than just an individual award. To get an assist somebody has to score, which has been a much scarcer commodity these last few games than much of the season. As I have mentioned before, Nika getting double digit assists is indicative of us playing a much more fluid offense, which is our strength. Lot's of assists by Nika (and the team as a whole) as we finish off the regular season will be a harbinger of good things to follow in the post season!

 

[BRS24]

Two to tie, three to surpass Suzanne Brigit Bird's single season record. It's probably a dream, but I hope that Sue is at the game Monday. What an amazing season for Nika.

 

[UcMiami]

No doubt that’s a key part of it. UConn is not pressing on defense, forcing turnovers and pushing for transition offense, all of which result in easier baskets, more scoring and more assists. In addition, the inability to spread the floor in the half court offense with multiple shooters severely limits the offense for open threes and backdoor cuts. There are few easier assists then finding an open 3-pt shooter at the arc.

The other problem is that UConn just doesn’t have enough quality passing out of their starters. Dorka is decent for a BIG Lou is fine and Nika is outstanding. But Aaliyah & Aubrey struggle to deliver accurate and timely passes on offense and it doesn’t get a lot better when Caroline or anyone else off the bench is in the game.

Compare that to last year’s team with Paige, Azzi, Nika & Evina who were all outstanding passers, along with Liv who was an outstanding passer as a BIG. So it is a combination of things to be sure. But just as you want a team to be balanced from a scoring perspective, it’s not the best thing to have one player dominate the assist category.

The team shooting percentage has also nose dived, while fast breaks and running are less frequent. Hard to get assists when shots are not falling.

 

[Blond D.]

Could it be "low scoring, grind it out games" because they have been basically playing 5 players between 35 and 40 minutes a game for the last month and that they are all mentally and physically drained?

I dont think they are mentally and physically tired anymore. That was when they had 5 games in 12 days plus travel. Nika said they need to get back to the harder practices and practice the UCONN way instead of having "easy" practices.

 

[PAHuskeyFan]

Two to tie, three to surpass Suzanne Brigit Bird's single season record. It's probably a dream, but I hope that Sue is at the game Monday. What an amazing season for Nika.

A great "pass the torch or crown or ?? type of moment.

 

[kidfrom360]

Congrats, Nika!

 

[SCNCHuskie]

Congratulations to Nika!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Congrats to Nika! Nice Q1 with 6 assists! Passed the GOAT.

 

[maple]

NIKA!!!! Amazing to see. Truly one of the bright spots of this season.

 

[Jokerman619]

Congratulations Nika,
You so deserve it. That puts you in very amazing company.

 

[awhom111]

Since she set the record, it seems like the right time to flip the numbers to calculating where she might end the season. Here is a chart with numbers based on her current season average:

Games Played	Total
2​	252​
3​	260​
4​	267​
5​	275​
6​	283​
7​	291​
8​	299​
9​	307​

 

[Beemer]

What an amazing run for her, someone who looked to be a role player for most of her UConn career but had to take over starting PG when Paige got hurt & then thriving in that position. Wow. And then to break the single season assists record set by the greatest UConn PG ever is just jaw dropping.

Congratulations Nika!!!!! That's my girl!

 

[JellyBean]

Congrats, Nika!! To look back, so many people doubted this young lady. For her to come this far, this is awesome! I am so proud of her.