Weird, not much love for KML.

[DanDar]

I get that Stewie is the reason for the championship but that is because teams have to pick their poison. They can't all converge on Stewie or KML will torch them and vice versa. Reading the articles in the media, KML is suddenly a forgotten player and yet she is one of UConn greats.

 

[semper]

Yes she IS....and she is only a soph. Lots to come....

 

[Harry Mangurian]

We know she is great. She knows she is great. Geno knows she is great.
'Nuff said. She is not forgotten. She is taken as a "given."
Right up there in likeability with Maya.

 

[OneTrickPony]

KML is the second coming of MJ...stay tuned...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Stewie makes KML better and KML makes Stewie better. If they stay unselfish team mates great things are in store for both.

 

[Blakeon18]

When we were struggling early it was KML who hit a few to get us going.
Prediction: tri-captains next year....Stef....Bria... KML.

 

[alexrgct]

Stewie makes KML better and KML makes Stewie better. If they stay unselfish team mates great things are in store for both.

And they will- they create space for each other, and they know it.

KML finished with 118 three pointers, 11 more than the previous Uconn record. She has scored more than any frosh or sophomore not named Maya Moore.

She is also turning into a rebounding machine and a nasty defender.

The beat goes on for her. She's the truth.

 

[pap49cba]

Geno said in his Monday presser that KML had been Uconn's most consistent player all year.

 

[Waquoit]

I get that Stewie is the reason for the championship but that is because teams have to pick their poison. They can't all converge on Stewie or KML will torch them and vice versa. Reading the articles in the media, KML is suddenly a forgotten player and yet she is one of UConn greats.

KML was fine last night, but she wasn't the straw that stirred drink. That's how it goes. In fact, during the brief walkabout in the 2nd half it seemed to me that they tried too hard to set her up and forced a few passes. She never stopped playing team ball last night. There will be match-ups down the road where she will be the difference maker.

 

[hoopsdiva]

KML has spent too much time with Kelly to be a selfish player or to focus too narrowly on scoring. I get the distinct impression that she's just as happy to set a screen to get Stewie open for a three as she is to make one herself. And she has truly transformed herself as a rebounder and general defender this year.

We have a great team that looks to be great for the next couple of years. There's plenty of love to go around.

 

[Icebear]

KML has spent too much time with Kelly to be a selfish player or to focus too narrowly on scoring. I get the distinct impression that she's just as happy to set a screen to get Stewie open for a three as she is to make one herself. And she has truly transformed herself as a rebounder and general defender this year.

We have a great team that looks to be great for the next couple of years. There's plenty of love to go around.

Amen. KML's games have become so blue collar. Just like her buddy.

 

[MilfordHusky]

ESPN gave props to Kaleena, but the print media today seem to have overlooked her.

Kaleena's game has become quite well-rounded and versatile. She got lots of tough rebounds and defended hard. In both games this week, she aggressively looked for her shot, especially early on, like Maya. Just call her an AP All-American next year. She and Stewie will be on the NPOY short list, and we will also have Stef and Bria. And more.

 

[OneTrickPony]

The fact that every defense we've faced this year has been primarily designed to stop Kaleena is the only meaningful tribute to her talent...

 

[Icebear]

KML wasn't the newest shiny toy at the tournament.

 

[MilfordHusky]

KML wasn't the newest shiny toy at the tournament.

True. But some of us really appreciate a tried-and-true toy.

 

[Icebear]

True. But some of us really appreciate a tried-and-true toy.

Thus a love for 18, 20, and 25 year old scotch.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

KML is still the truth. I love the way she plays. She plays hard on both ends and there isn't anyone who can shoot better than her. When she goes for a 3 point shot, I expect it to go in every single time.

 

[blackbird]

With Hartley's reemergence, Stewarts emergence, it being Kelly's senior season and KML not doing anything extraordinary (because her shooting 50% from 3 is typical now.) it's not surprising.

She improved tremendously from her freshman to her sophomore season. I'm really not sure what she should improve offensively. I might say passing, but I don't know that I want her to pass. She's got a long way to go defensively, but there's no reason she can't be at Taurasi's level defensively by the time she graduates.

 

[cohenzone]

KML is so efficient, and so matter of fact, that how good she is is easy to overlook by people attracted to flash and dash. The next time she gets in an opponents face after making a play - um - there won't be a next time, or a first time because she expects to be making plays. Guaranteed opposing coaches and players are very aware of her.

 

[UcMiami]

KML has spent too much time with Kelly to be a selfish player or to focus too narrowly on scoring. I get the distinct impression that she's just as happy to set a screen to get Stewie open for a three as she is to make one herself. And she has truly transformed herself as a rebounder and general defender this year.

We have a great team that looks to be great for the next couple of years. There's plenty of love to go around.

Bingo. I do not think Kelly's effect on the whole team from Freshman through Juniors off the court and in practice and in games can be overstated. The special relationship that she and KML seem to have established has broadened KML's game to an astonishing degree. She is now a very good defender, a reliable passers, a monster on the boards and in the low post. So much more complete a player than she was her freshman year.
And a shout out to the other seniors as well - CD is no slouch in the 'by example' phase of team building and nor is Heather. We may not see the production in the games, but their dedication to the team and the coaching staff is what makes 'team' truly work as a concept.

 

[meyers7]

KML is going to be one of the greatest ever to play for UCONN. In the realm of Charles, Bird, Abrosimova. Unfortunately for her notoriety (not that she probably cares, more some of her fans), she has had to / will have to play in the Moore and Stewart eras. At least she'll still get her AA's and NC's.

 

[UcMiami]

I left out one other thing in the above - Bria and Stef. Our lone AA entering the year had a really miserable year from a physical standpoint and a tough time mentally. She could have gone into a shell when pulled from the starting line-up, but instead she put together her best string of games coming off the bench - a great lesson to the rest of the team. And warrior Stef playing on two bad wheels and obviously struggling physically had a great second half.

 

[Waquoit]

KML is going to be one of the greatest ever to play for UCONN. In the realm of Charles, Bird, Abrosimova. Unfortunately for her notoriety (not that she probably cares, more some of her fans), she has had to / will have to play in the Moore and Stewart eras. At least she'll still get her AA's and NC's.

And be a high WNBA draft choice and make decent coin overseas it she chooses. Shooters like that are gold.

 

[blackbird]

I left out one other thing in the above - Bria and Stef. Our lone AA entering the year had a really miserable year from a physical standpoint and a tough time mentally. She could have gone into a shell when pulled from the starting line-up, but instead she put together her best string of games coming off the bench - a great lesson to the rest of the team. And warrior Stef playing on two bad wheels and obviously struggling physically had a great second half.

Bria told Geno she wanted to come off the bench and provide that energy.

Personally, I think Bria just wanted Geno to start Caroline. And I think Geno wanted to continue starting Caroline. The two of them just came up with an excuse to do it.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

I get that Stewie is the reason for the championship but that is because teams have to pick their poison. They can't all converge on Stewie or KML will torch them and vice versa. Reading the articles in the media, KML is suddenly a forgotten player and yet she is one of UConn greats.

To me, KML is that Jimmy guy in Hoosiers. In the championship, at the end of the close game, where everyone (including coach Gene Hackman) is debating who should take the final shot and Hackman is arguing to use Jimmy as a decoy, Hackman finally shuts up and everyone just falls silent. Hackman asks what's the matter and all eyes fall on Jimmy. "I'll make the shot," is what he said. And what he did.