Wade Trophy finalists | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Wade Trophy finalists

Let's not kid ourselves either. McCowan's effective but it's due in large part to her significant size advantage. What does she do better than Collier? Anything?

McCowan is a significantly better rebounder than Collier and is a much more intimidating post presence on defense. It shows a lack of recognition of basketball skills to believe it's simply her size. Frankly, it's disrespectful to her. You asked so I answered.
 
So what is NPOY about? I always thought it goes to the best player in the country, so long as they had a great year, played an MVP type role for their team, and didn't miss a ton of time due to injury. We've seen various statistical comparisons in this very thread (and the other one), and Gustafson edges Collier in some categories, with Collier better in others. I guess I'm missing what makes Gustafson so much better and a much more qualified candidate for NPOY than Collier. My opinion is some late press for Gustafson is what put her over the top.

You're the one who questioned why she's among the finalists. It's obvious to most so I encourage you to look into it more thoroughly, not ask others to make the case for you.
 
You know what yes I do feel Pheesa shouldve been on the list and maybe she feels she does too but the award that I and most likely she cares about more is that trophy symbolizing a 12th national championship for the program.
 
The irony is that previously UConn players who weren't the best statistically were being nominated for POY because the team was undefeated.


I am trying hard to think of who you might be writing about but I can't think of any UConn nominee in the past who wasn't deserving .

I didn't say they weren't deserving, I said they weren't the best statistically.
 
Quite a slight on Phees. McCowan is a pysical specimen and a force but she doesn't work very hard (IMO).
 
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McCowan is a significantly better rebounder than Collier and is a much more intimidating post presence on defense. It shows a lack of recognition of basketball skills to believe it's simply her size. Frankly, it's disrespectful to her. You asked so I answered.

Considering the difference in size, it's a stretch to say McCowan's a "significantly better rebounder." She has 5" on Collier. Post presence? Eh, that's because she's the size of a house.
 
Let me rephrase: if UConn were considered one of the 2 or 3 top teams, she would've been on the list.
UConn had 3 marquee games -- it lost 2, and CW was the star in the other. NC didnt have a big-publicity moment.
Big publicity moment? You mean when your HOF coach says you’re one of the top players the 11 championship program has ever seen?
 
So what is NPOY about? I always thought it goes to the best player in the country, so long as they had a great year, played an MVP type role for their team, and didn't miss a ton of time due to injury. We've seen various statistical comparisons in this very thread (and the other one), and Gustafson edges Collier in some categories, with Collier better in others. I guess I'm missing what makes Gustafson so much better and a much more qualified candidate for NPOY than Collier. My opinion is some late press for Gustafson is what put her over the top.

But success of the team might have some part in this as well. Not pure individual numbers. That being said I wouldn't have a problem if Gustafson won over Collier but at least have Collier in the final group!
 
Considering the difference in size, it's a stretch to say McCowan's a "significantly better rebounder." She has 5" on Collier. Post presence? Eh, that's because she's the size of a house.

I'm completely lost on the point you're trying to make. Size differences are a fundamental thing in sports. Nearly all great post players are very large. It's part of the game.
 
Okay, I'll throw a flame on this one. How about the fact that against the ONLY top-10 opponent Miss St has faced ALL SEASON, McCowan scored 5 points and was benched in crunch time for flagrant lack of effort and all-around bad attitude.
 
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Quite a slight on Phees. McCowan is a pysical specimen and a force but she doesn't work very hard (IMO).

I have a feeling if you watched more of her games you might develop a different opinion. She deals with a lot of physical play in a typical game and plays a lot in big games. 45 minutes in the national semi last year.
 
Okay, I'll throw a flame on this one. How about the fact that against the ONLY top-10 opponent Miss St has faced ALL SEASON, McCowan scored 5 points and was benched in crunch time for flagrant lack of effort and all-around bad attitude.

I'm not biting. You love to make this point. Look at her work in the NCAA Tourney last year if you think she doesn't show up in most big games. She'll have her opportunity this weekend.
 
I'm not biting. You love to make this point. Look at her work in the NCAA Tourney last year if you think she doesn't show up in most big games. She'll have her opportunity this weekend.
This is the first time I've gone out of my way to point out her dismal performance vs. Oregon.

Last year's tournament is (or at least, should be) irrelevant to this year's awards. Vivians isn't in the running either.
 
This is the first time I've gone out of my way to point out her dismal performance vs. Oregon.

Last year's tournament is (or at least, should be) irrelevant to this year's awards. Vivians isn't in the running either.

Nowhere in this thread will you find me arguing for McCowan as NPOY.
 
Nowhere in this thread will you find me arguing for McCowan as NPOY.
She's a great player. There are a lot of great players to choose from this year.
 
Nowhere in this thread will you find me arguing for McCowan as NPOY.

If I had a vote it would go to Gustafson or Ionescu, but there are a number of other very worthy candidates, including Collier.
 
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If I had a vote it would go to Gustafson or Ionescu, but there are a number of other very worthy candidates, including Collier.
I've said elsewhere, and would reaffirm, that my vote goes to Gustafson. Her season has been just off the charts. But it still annoys me to see Napheesa get the shaft on these finalists' lists.
 
I didn't say they weren't deserving, I said they weren't the best statistically.
(finish the quote) were being nominated for POY because the team was undefeated."
You may have not meant to say that but you implied that they weren't deserving.
 
I didn't say they weren't deserving, I said they weren't the best statistically.

Statistics are not everything. You also have to look at who those statistics were against. If Gustafson is putting up her best numbers against top 25 opponents and someone else had stinkers in their biggest games or maybe just performed worse than against easy competition, that is going to matter. I think Jackie Young should have been ahead of Arike on the other NPOY award. She is the better all around player while Arike can score and is flashy. She's getting better on defense but Jackie and Turner have been the best defenders all year. But like Collier, they play team basketball so it's harder to win awards like that. All 5 ND starters average double figures and though Arike loves to score herself and I think that is why ND looked average early in the year, she has started playing more team ball of late.
 
Based on the advanced stats approach where more effort is made to take into account the complete player, Megan and Naphessa should be running 1-2 so it is a travesty she is not on any of the top 4 lists. This was pointed out in a previous thread.

View attachment 41512
Wow, maybe KLS is better than most think with her overall contributions and only 19PPG?
 
Wow, maybe KLS is better than most think with her overall contributions and only 19PPG?
As I've stated before KLS is having her best all-around season but the people who don't understand the game have ignored that. Her 6.7 RPG is outstanding considering she plays all over the court. Of course, her great FT % is being ignored too. Oh and BTW, her 3pt % is not that good compared to HER past ones. She is still shooting 3s better than Durr & Arike in addition to both Collier (.280) & Gustafson (1 att) not being 3pt threats. As I've also stated before the intangibles and incomparable superstar team play that KLS consistently delivers is immeasurable. I just can't believe how her coaches have not realized that especially vs the few top teams that are capable of beating them that the offense has to run thru KLS which would further take advantage of her great & efficient passing. The fact that she can play with or without the ball & inside or outside all equally well means that no tactics should be able to take her out of the mainstream of the offense for most of any game.
 
Hmm...ya'll might have a point. Collier is looking like she's going to win this game by herself tonight.
 
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Hmm...ya'll might have a point. Collier is looking she's going to win this game by herself tonight.
OMG QUIT JINXING YOU DEMON.
 
No player has done what she’s done against top competition all year.
 
I don't have the slightest problem with Ionescu and Gustafson being on the finalist lists, or even winning over Collier. What burns me is Collier being left off in favor of Durr and Ogunbowale, both grossly inferior players to Collier. Durr and Ogunbowale are scorers, and far less efficient than Collier, who also passes, rebounds, blocks shots, and plays defense better. I was leaning towards Ionescu most of the season, but Oregon's lack of
success without Hebard and Connecticut's continued success without Samuleson swung me in Collier's favor.
Not to mention that she's now had six straight 20-10 games in the postseason. (She also has way more double-doubles than Ionescu, which surprised me.)
 
That really surprises me too ..... something I think the voters should have noticed as well

Collier is averaging a double double. Why would this be a surprise?
 
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