UConn freshman Paige Bueckers named Naismith Trophy semifinalist

[Carnac]

Paige Bueckers has done it all for the UConn women this season. Now, she’s getting recognized for her contributions from a national standpoint. Bueckers was named one of 11 semifinalists for the Naismith Women’s Trophy, which is award to the country’s best player. She was one of two freshmen to make the cut, alongside fellow first-year phenom Caitlin Clark (Iowa). This is the second national award that has included Bueckers on its shortlist this week. She’s also one of five finalists for the Nancy Lieberman award, given to the nation’s top point guard.

UConn freshman Paige Bueckers named Naismith Trophy semifinalist

Paige Bueckers has done it all for the UConn women this season. Now, she’s getting recognized for her contributions from a national standpoint. UConn freshman Paige Bueckers (5) was named as …

www.courant.com

 

[eebmg]

Guessing the 4 semifinalists are Paige, Caitlin, Dana, Naz

 

[Dawson]

The Naismith Trophy announced its semifinalists for the 2021 Women's Player of the Year award. The list includes 11 players instead of the usual 10, due to a tie among voters.

The winner of the 2021 Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's College Player of the Year Award will be announced April 3, the day before the national championship game.

The list will be narrowed to four finalists on March 19.

The full semifinalist list is below.

Semifinalists for Naismith Women's Player of the Year award announced

 

[MD#12Fan]

The votes have to be in I believe April 3. The championship game is April 4.
So it's all set up on a tee for Paige to emerge epically on the national stage with the acclaim that comes with it.
Could be a lot of fun.

 

[donalddoowop]

It seems strange to have eleven semifinalists for any award. I guess I am used to two or four. I was in a contest one time and I was the only semifinalist. That was a strange one.??

 

[dtbtbtb]

It seems strange to have eleven semifinalists for any award. I guess I am used to two or four. I was in a contest one time and I was the only semifinalist. That was a strange one.??

Did you win

 

[Rb335]

The thing that was separating Paige was her superior efficiency, which has dropped as of late. At this point, I see her being awarded first team AA, but not so sure she will win any of the NPOY awards. From this list, I'd guess Evans, Clark, and Hillmon are the biggest competition.

 

[cwaduke]

By definition, I always saw semifinals as 4.

 

[Charliebball]

Hillman or Evans will win it..........PB has three more shots, Boston two.........

 

[Gurleyman]

Just for information purposes and because I’m (clearly) a little bored. Here’s what the teams were ranked for the past winners (I’m using the pre-tournament poll since that’s what the team would have been ranked around the time of the voting, as opposed to the final poll after the tournament).

You’ll find only two have ever come from outside the top 10. Plum at No. 12 when she became the all time scoring leader and Cheryl Miller at No. 11 when she repeated. So for Howard, Clark or Collier to have a chance, they’d have to blow the doors off this standard.

2020 - Ionescu (2)
2019 - Gustafson (8)
2018 - Wilson (7)
2017 - Plum (12)
2016 - Stewart (1)
2015 - Stewart (1)
2014 - Stewart (1)
2013 - Griner (1)
2012 - Griner (1)
2011 - Moore (1)
2010 - Charles (1)
2009 - Moore (1)
2008 - Parker (3)
2007 - Harding (1)
2006 - Augustus (5)
2005 - Augustus (2)
2004 - Taurasi (6)
2003 - Taurasi (1)
2002 - Bird (1)
2001 - Riley (2)
2000 - Catchings (2)
1999 - Holdsclaw (2)
1998 - Holdsclaw (1)
1997 - Starbird (3)
1996 - Roundtree (5)
1995 - Lobo (1)
1994 - Leslie (9)
1993 - Swoopes (6)
1992 - Staley (1)
1991 - Staley (2)
1990 - Azzi (2)
1989 - Davis (6)
1988 - Wicks (9)
1987 - Davis (1)
1986 - Miller (4)
1985 - Miller (11)
1984 - Miller (5)
1983 - Donovan (4)

 

[BostonBay]

Its a travesty if its awarded to anyone but Paige. No player more all-rounded than Paige - shooting, assists, rebounds, defense. What "separates" Paige from the others is she plays her best against top competition when it counts. UConn is nowhere near ranked #1 without her.

 

[Alydar]

Hillman or Evans will win it..........PB has three more shots, Boston two.........

Remember that next year a player is coming who was named the best player in HS basketball when all the current college freshmen and sophomores were still in HS. If she's still the best then maybe this is Bueckers' last shot since she'll never score like this year again.

 

[donalddoowop]

Did you win

Yes.

 

[Charliebball]

Remember that next year a player is coming who was named the best player in HS basketball when all the current college freshmen and sophomores were still in HS. If she's still the best then maybe this is Bueckers' last shot since she'll never score like this year again.

very true............I was really thinking about what those voting might consider.........I haven't checked on this but my sense is they do tend to pick upperclasswomen when the other strong candidates have a couple more shots at it.....

 

[Gurleyman]

very true............I was really thinking about what those voting might consider.........I haven't checked on this but my sense is they do tend to pick upperclasswomen when the other strong candidates have a couple more shots at it.....

You’re basically right. It favors upperclasswomen - you have to be significantly better than the competition to win as a freshman or sophomore. Two weeks ago, you could have said Paige was exactly that - it’s less apparent now. Have to hope being ranked No. 1 and the SC game are enough to create separation. But no big deal. I’d take her not getting it if it meant she returned to form for the postseason - in fact, that’s an easy one!

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Hillman or Evans will win it..........PB has three more shots, Boston two.........

Why should either of them win it though? Hillmon's a very good player, one I'd love to have on UConn, but she's not the all-around player Bueckers is.

Evans is very good too obviously, and better defensively than Paige. But Paige has been better offensively in pretty much every category and Louisville has not played stellar competition either.

Clark's the one with comparable numbers but a different situation in that the entire Iowa offense revolves around her. And both she and the team are so poor defensively that they end up in a ton of shootouts where she's obliged to go crazy.

 

[Charliebball]

I think in the eyes of the voters Evans seems to be preordained to win as a scorer and team leader in her senior year.........Hillman the same although I believe a junior.......they've both done it consistently season after season while PB and Clark are 20+ game "wonders".......if PB had outplayed Evans in their now canceled meeting perhaps that might have tipped the scales a bit......

 

[Fairfield Fan]

The thing that was separating Paige was her superior efficiency, which has dropped as of late. At this point, I see her being awarded first team AA, but not so sure she will win any of the NPOY awards. From this list, I'd guess Evans, Clark, and Hillmon are the biggest competition.

I'm guessing Boston, Smith, Cunane, or Evans. I don't think they'll give it to a freshman, and you've got to lead your team to a great record. No also-ran's! Paige is a dark horse.